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GETTING  READY 


FOR  A  Revival 


BY 

REV.  E.  S.  LORENZ,  B.  D.  . 

PRESIDENT  OF  LEBANON  VALLEY  COLLEGE 


DAYTON,  OHIO: 
United  Brethren  Publishing  House. 
1889. 


COPYRIGHT,  1888, 

Bt  W.  J.  Shuey,  Dayton,  Ohio. 


Wi)^a  are  |^0oKing  <f  orfaarb  ta  or  ^afac  just  €nttttlt  t\iz  pimstrg, 
antr  fol^0  are 
^pttrrebr  on  &g  a  ^iclg  Ambition 
®J0  be  a  ^abstx  fat  gig^teoasttess  in  t^t  Mottn,  ta  |Ceair 
^ang  ^ouls  lo  S^l^eii:  Sabioar,  anb  ia  ^ailb  wp 
@;^e  C^tirc^  0f  Christ, 
§0oh  is  Post  ^ffeclionatelg  |pebicateb  bg  l^eir 
Jellofo-serbant  aab  Widi-kk^zt, 


PREFACE. 


Great  as  are  many  of  the  mistakes  made  in  the  management 
of  revival  work,  there  is  none,  in  my  judgment,  so  general  and 
disastrous  as  the  negledl  adequately  to  prepare  for  the  coming 
special  services,  weeks,  and  even  months  in  advance.  The  time 
was  when  preparation  for  a  revival  was  impossible,  for  a  preacher 
with  from  ten  to  forty  appointments  to  serve  could  do  little  more 
than  preach,  holding  a  meeting  here  or  there  as  the  Spirit  seemed 
to  indicate.  The  rapid  concentration  of  mind  and  heart  possible 
to  our  simple  minded  fathers  on  account  of  the  lack  of  other  sub- 
jedls  of  thought  and  feeling  made  preparation  less  necessary 
than  it  is  now  in  this  day  of  complex  civilization  with  its  unnum- 
bered distracting  elements.  What  was  once  a  simple  problem 
has  become  a  greatly  complicated  one  whose  solution  requires 
great  fertility  in  expedients  and  indomitable  patience.  I  was 
impressed  with  this  fadl  at  the  very  beginning  of  my  ministry, 
and  what  little  success  the  lyord  has  given  me  in  winning  souls 
has  seemed  largely  due  on  its  human  side  to  the  plans  and  meth- 
ods employed  in  preparing  the  way  for  the  revival  service.  It 
has  seemed  a  duty  to  give  an  account  of  the  general  principles 
which  guided  me  in  this  work  with  such  plans  and  methods  as 
would  illustrate  them,  and  make  them  more  suggestive,  as  a  help 
to  others  whose  thoughts  have  not  taken  the  same  diredlion,  or 
whose  youth  and  inexperience  would  lead  them  to  welcome  prac- 
tical suggestions  in  this  important  work. 

I  hardly  need  to  say  that  no  attempt  has  been  made  to 
exhaust  the  possible  methods  that  may  be  employed  in  work 

vii 


viii 


PREFACIS. 


preparatory  to  a  revival.  My  desire  has  been  to  be  suggestive 
rather  than  exhaustive.  Personal  talents  and  local  circumstances 
vary  so  greatly  that  an  endless  variety  of  plans  and  measures  are 
possible,  and  if  the  following  pages  suggest  other  and  better 
plans  to  the  fertile  mind  of  the  earnest  evangelistic  worker  their 
purpose  has  been  fully  met. 

Many  of  the  plans  and  expedients  suggested  in  this  volume 
will  not  be  found  praAicable  everywhere ;  but  that  does  not  prove 
them  practicable  nowhere.  Indeed,  none  have  been  admitted 
which  have  not  approved  themselves  either  in  the  author's  own 
experience  or  in  that  of  some  of  his  brethren.  To  such  pastors 
as  find  the  clerical  profession  an  easy  one  the  following  discus- 
sion will  appear  absurd,  for  it  implies  absolute  absorption  of 
mind  in  the  aggressive  work  of  the  church  and  unceasing  toil  by 
day  and  by  night  The  lazy  minister  who  reverses  the  law  of  the 
Sabbath,  working  one  day  and  resting  six,  has  no  use  for  this 
volume.  These  pages  take  for  granted  that  the  pastor  is  a  hard 
worker  who  spares  himself  only  that  he  may  work  harder  in  the 
future. 

As  many  a  shrewd  reader  will  suspedl  it  at  any  rate,  I  may  as 
well  confess  that  this  volume  is  but  a  part  of  a  larger  work  which 
was  to  have  contained  a  discussion  of  all  the  important  phases  of 
the  management  of  revivals.  Called  to  accept  other  duties 
which  claim  all  my  strength  and  leisure,  I  am  obliged  to  relin- 
quish the  larger  plan  and  to  content  myself  with  sending  out 
only  the  first  of  the  three  parts  of  the  work.  Whether  the  other 
two  parts,  on  the  management  of  the  work  "During  the 
Revival"  and  "After  the  Revival"  will  ever  be  prepared  is 
known  only  to  Him  for  whose  glory  they  were  projedled. 

E.  S.  IvORENZ. 

Lebanon  Valley  College^  Annville^  Pa.y  July  13th,  1888. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Introduction   1 1 

PART  I. 
The  Preacher's  Preparation. 

Chapter  First — Studying  the  Situation   17 

Chapter  Second  —  Preparing  Means  and  Methods   33 

Chapter  Third — Spiritual  Preparation   52 

PART  II. 
Preparation  of  the  Church. 

Chapter  First — Waking  the  Fnergy  of  the  Church   76 

Chapter  Second  —  Spiritual  Preparation  of  the  Church   83 

Chapter  Third  —  Organizing  the  Church  104 

PART  III. 
General  Preparation, 

Chapter  First — Preparation  of  the  Unsaved  119 

Chapter  Second — Calling  an  Evangelist  143 

Chapter  Third — Miscellaneous  Preparation  151 

ix 


"The  connedlion  between  the  right  use  of  means  for  a  re- 
vival, and  a  revival,  is  as  philosophically  sure  as  between  the 
right  use  of  means  to  raise  grain  and  a  crop  of  wheat.  I  be- 
lieve, in  fadl,  it  is  more  certain,  and  that  there  are  fewer 
Instances  of  failure.  The  e£fe(5l  is  more  certain  to  follow. 
Probably  the  law  connedling  cause  and  e£Fedl  is  more  undevi- 
ating  in  spiritual  than  in  natural  things,  and  so  there  are 
fewer  exceptions." — President  Finney. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Before  proceeding  to  consider  the  methods  to  be  used  in  pre- 
paring for  revival  work,  it  is  important  that  the  conception  of 
revivals  upon  which  this  study  is  based  should  be  clearly  defined, 
and  its  claims  to  definite  treatment  examined  and  justified. 

In  a  general  way  a  revival  may  be  said  to  be  the  result  of  a 
special  religious  impulse  manifesting  itself  in  the  renewal  of  the 
first  love  of  Christians,  and  the  quickening  of  their  zeal,  and  in 
the  conversion  of  sinners.  The  very  etymology  of  the  word 
implies  previous  spiritual  death.  Indifference  and  negledl  hav- 
ing broken  down  the  spiritual  life  of  a  community,  at  its  lowest 
ebb  an  unexpedled  readlion  is  felt.  The  native  religious 
instindls  of  the  race  assert  themselves,  and  open  the  way  for  the 
operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Suddenly,  and  often  seemingly 
spontaneously,  a  wonderful  interest  is  felt  by  church  and  world 
alike  in  the  long  negledled  subjedl  of  religion,  especially  in  its 
personal  bearings.  The  church  becomes  conscious  of  its  sin  and 
unworthiness,  repents  deeply  of  its  backslidings,  renews  its  faith 
and  love  for  God,  and  manifests  a  consuming  zeal  for  the  exten- 
sion of  his  kingdom.  The  results  of  the  new  religious  impulse 
are  seen  among  sinners  in  antagonism,  restlessness,  fear,  con- 
viction of  sin,  and  conversion.  The  movement  affedls  the 
community  in  its  organized  solidarity  as  a  community,  not  as  an 
aggregation  of  individuals.  Like  conditions  have  produced  like 
needs  and  susceptibilities,  and,  the  movement  having  found  a 
beginning  in  some  more  religiously  sensitive  heart,  it  runs  like 
an  electric  current  throughout  the  whole  community. 

xi 


Xii  INTRODUCTION. 

r 

^  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  results  look  in  two  different 
directions,  the  church,  and  the  unsaved.  The  conception  of  a 
revival  will  vary  as  the  one  or  the  other  is  emphasized.  The 
word  revival  itself  lays  the  stress  on  the  results  to  the  church, 
because  in  the  beginning  of  these  movements  the  benefits  were 
most  conspicuous  among  professed  Christians.  .  During  the  last 
century  when  the  churches  both  in  England  and  America  had 
declined  to  such  a  fearful  extent  in  piety  and  religious  power, 
when  they  were  largely  composed  of  unregenerated  persons,  the 
revival  of  the  church  was  the  most  striking  result  obtained,  and 
hence  the  eflfedl  of  the  new  religious  impulse  upon  the  church 
was  emphasized. 

In  our  own  day  the  radical  idea  of  the  revival  has  not  changed, 
but  owing  to  altered  conditions  another  aspedl  of  the  result  ha'^ 
received  the  greater  attention.  The  churches  are  at  least  pro- 
fessedly constituted  of  converted  persons,  and  the  stress  placed 
upon  the  dodlrine  of  personal  assurance  of  salvation  has  drawn  a 
sharp  line  between  the  saved  and  the  unsaved.  The  accumulated 
momentum  gained  from  past  revivals  makes  it  no  longer  neces- 
sary to  dwell  so  emphatically  on  the  quickening  of  the  church, 
and  the  revival  becomes  an  aggressive  movement  for  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners.  The  etymological  sense  of  the  word  is  obscured. 
Instead  of  a  largely  spontaneous  movement,  unpremeditated  and 
unplanned,  we  have  a  definite  method  by  which  the  church, 
already  quickened  and  consecrated,  adds  to  the  number  of 
Christ's  disciples.  It  rests  on  a  consecrated  will,  not  on  a  fleet- 
ing emotion.  It  becomes  a  means  carefully  studied  and  prepared 
for  in  advance,  a  regular  and  integral  part  of  the  church  work, 
influencing  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  all  its  other  phases  and 
forms.  It  is  the  harvest  time  of  the  year,  when  the  yield  of  the 
seed  sown  during  other  seasons  is  gathered  in,  when  all  the  gen- 
eral and  personal  plans  for  saving  people  reach  their  time  of 
consummation;  when  the  ordinary  cares  and  interests  of  life 
stand  in  abeyance,  and  all  the  energies  of  the  church  are  concen- 


INTRODUCTION. 


xiii 


trated  upon  the  immediate  work  of  leading  souls  to  Christ;  when 
under  special  power  and  grace  obtained  from  God  by  special 
prayer  a  special  work  is  accomplished.  It  is  a  definite  method 
from  which,  if  properly  applied,  definite  results  are  to  be  ex- 
pedted.  It  is  a  campaign,  deliberately  determined  upon  and 
planned,  in  which  every  possible  exigency  is  foreseen  and  pro- 
vided for. 

As  it  is  this  conception  of  the  revival  which  is  the  basis  of  the 
thought  of  this  work,  it  deserves  a  little  further  investigation. 
This  is  all  the  more  necessary  that  many  workers  whom  it  gov- 
erns unconsciously  in  their  work  feel  a  vague  sense  of  duty  to 
antagonize  it  when  it  is  definitely  expressed.  Others  denounce 
as  presumptuous  and  impious  the  degradation  of  these  modern 
theophanies  into  a  mechanical  method  for  manufadluring  Chris- 
tians, as  they  would  express  it.  A  revival  is  the  work  of  God 
through  his  Spirit,  they  would  urge,  and  man  should  not  impede 
the  work  by  his  plans  and  measures.  The  origin  of  the  difficulty 
lies  in  the  false  presumption  of  a  necessary  antagonism  between 
the  plans  and  methods  of  consecrated  men  and  the  mind  of  the 
Spirit.  The  emphasis  placed  upon  human  instrumentalities  and 
plans  seems  to  them  to  imply  a  substitution  for  divine  power 
and  a  derogation  from  the  divine  glory.  An  examination  of  the 
basal  ideas  of  the  conception  of  the  revival  as  a  method  of  work 
will  remove  the  misapprehension,  and  relieve  many  earnest  and 
successful  workers  from  the  imputation  of  presumption  and 
impiety. 

The  corner-stone  of  this  conception  of  the  revival  is  the  idea 
of  God's  abiding  desire  to  save  the  sinner,  "As  I  live,  saith  the 
I/ord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked;  but  that 
the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live."  (Ezekiel  33:  ii).  In 
the  form  of  Wisdom,  God  cries  in  the  streets,  in  the  chief  place 
of  concourse,  in  the  opening  of  the  gates  (Proverbs  i:  20).  He 
rises  up  early  (Jeremiah  7:  13),  and  calls  and  spreads  his  hands 
all  the  day  (Isaiah  65: 2).    God  is  not  only  always  ready  and  will- 


xiv 


INTRODUCTION. 


ing,  but  also  eager  to  save,  and  rejoices  to  cooperate  with  any 
honest  eflFort  to  accomplish  the  results  he  himself  so  earnesf  y 
desires.  God's  wish  to  save  men  is  not  fludluating,  or  subject  to 
ebb  and  flow,  finding  its  manifestation  in  a  community  but  once 
in  two  or  three  or  even  ten  years,  but  an  abiding  passion  of  the 
divine  heart  upon  which  we  can  rely  even  more  certainly  than 
we  can  on  the  force  of  gravitation.  God's  love  for  souls  is  always 
aglow.  He  is  always  ready  to  work  in  a  revival.  His  right  arm 
of  power  is  ever  bare  waiting  to  be  set  in  motion  by  the  prayer 
ot  faith  from  a  soul  which  longs  for  the  salvation  of  sinners. 

The  second  truth  justifying  this  conception  of  the  revival  is 
that  God  does  not  use  his  power  in  an  immediate  and  absolute 
way,  but  in  his  wisdom  prefers  to  work  by  human  agencies.  The 
Scriptures  are  largely  the  history  of  the  persons  whom  he  chose 
as  his  agents.  The  command  "  Teach  all  nations  "  is  a  recogni- 
tion of  man's  partnership  in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world. 
The  infinite  uses  the  finite  to  influence  the  finite.  Infinite  power 
and  grace  are  translated  into  finite  terms  through  human  person- 
ality. The  desired  results  are  purely  moral,  and  no  power,  even 
though  infinite,  can  produce  them  except  as  it  is  transformed 
into  moral  influence.  To  the  great  mass  of  mankind  this  moral 
influence  best  comes  through  their  fellows.  The  power  of  a  great 
manufadlory  is  the  expansive  force  of  the  pent-up  steam  in  its 
hoilers;  but  only  as  that  force  is  transmitted  by  cogs  and  belts, 
hopelessly  powerless  in  themselves,  to  the  various  machines, 
does  it  set  every  wheel  in  motion  and  yield  the  desired  produdls. 
The  influence  of  neighbor  on  neighbor  and  of  friend  on  friend, 
family  and  social  ties,  all  these  are  but  the  cogs  and  belts  by 
which  the  power  of  God  is  often  transmitted.  This  is  as  true  in 
the  revival  as  in  any  other  department  of  church  work.  No 
matter  how  spontaneous  a  revival  may  seem  to  be,  a  closer 
examination  will  reveal  the  human  instruments,  perhaps  uncon- 
scious or  even  unwilling,  through  whom  God  worked;  and  in  one 
way  or  another  he  immediately  provides  efficient  agents  to  carry 


INTRODUCTION, 


XV 


it  on.  Moreover  God  is  pleased  to  have  the  results  depend  very 
largely,  not  only  upon  the  faithfulness  and  zeal  of  his  agents,  but 
also  upon  their  power  and  skill  in  moving  and  controlling  men. 
Their  mental  power,  their  emotional  natures,  the  force  of  their 
■wills,  their  social  ties  or  influence,  nay  even  their  physical  force 
may  become  the  channel  through  which  the  power  and  grace  of 
God  flow  into  the  lives  of  men. 

So  far  from  there  being  any  antagonism  between  divine  power 
and  the  human  instrument,  the  highest  results  are  obtained  by 
their  fullest  cooperation.  Beyond  question  God  could  work 
alone,  but  he  does  not  choose  to  do  so.  When  man  works  alone 
trusting  to  his  own  wisdom  and  methods  his  failure  is  disastrous. 
But  when  men  consecrate  to  God  their  physical,  mental,  and 
spiritual  powers,  their  eloquence  and  executive  talents,  their  tadl 
and  fertility  in  expedients,  all  they  have  and  are,  he  accepts  these 
gifts  which  he  had  first  given  them  for  this  very  purpose,  and 
vitalizes  and  renders  them  unspeakably  more  efficient  by  the 
anointing  of  the  Spirit.  As  the  disciples  went  forth  and  preached 
everywhere,  the  I^ord  worked  with  them  and  confirmed  the  word 
with  signs  following.  The  love  is  divine,  the  methods  of  apply- 
ing it  to  human  needs  are  human,  and  there  is  no  rivalry  between 
them.  As  well  might  the  air  and  the  flying  birds  enter  into  a 
controversy  over  the  credit  for  its  speed.  God  may  convidl  and 
convert  individuals  and  communities  without  intermediate  human 
agency,  even  as  the  storm  might  carry  the  bird  with  unspread 
wings;  but  storm  driven  birds  are  the  exception  not  the  rule,  and 
even  they  will  go  faster  and  further  if  their  wings  are  outspread. 

In  the  third  place  this  conception  of  the  revival  rests  upon  the 
truth  that  it  is  the  result  of  a  wise  application  and  adaptation  of 
the  laws  of  mind  and  spirit,  and  not  a  miracle  contradicfting  or 
suspending  those  laws.  They  become  the  channels  through 
which  the  power  of  God  becomes  available  to  men  in  the  pros- 
ecution of  his  work.  For  in  revival  work  we  are  not  engaged  as 
some  seem  to  think  in  something  outside  the  laws  of  cause  and 


xvi 


INTRODUCTION. 


efife<5l,  something  without  rule  or  order,  in  which  the  divine  will 
works  arbitrarily,  but  in  a  realm  of  law  none  the  less  definite  and 
fixed  that  it  is  spiritual.  There  are  laws  of  faith  and  prayer  and 
love  in  the  spiritual  world  just  as  there  are  laws  of  motion  in  the 
physical.  Nay  more,  there  is  an  interadlion  between  the  laws  of 
the  physical,  mental,  and  spiritual  realms,  which,  while  it  adds 
great  complexity  to  the  problem,  also  gives  a  wider  range  for  the 
exercise  of  skill  and  tacft  in  applying  them  to  the  needs  of  the 
revival.  The  laws  and  instindls  of  man's  animal  nature,  ordained 
as  they  are  of  God,  are  not  too  low  to  receive  consideration  of  the 
skillful  revival  worker.  No  matter  what  his  theories  may  be, 
every  successful  revivalist  studies  carefully  the  best  methods  of 
impressing  the  minds  of  men,  and  of  controlling  those  affecftions 
and  motives  which  most  powerfully  affedl  their  wills.  In  the  less 
thoroughly  explored  psychical  and  spiritual  realm  of  man's  nature, 
he  trusts  his  intuitions,  his  sublimated  common  sense,  and  uses 
and  applies  laws  he  would  find  unconquerable  difficulty  in  formu- 
lating. Everywhere,  consciously  or  unconsciously;  with  set 
purpose  or  spontaneously,  revivalists  are  using  all  these  laws 
under  the  guidance  and  inspiration  of  God,  and  accomplishing 
his  blessed  purposes.  Sandlified  skill  and  wisdom  not  only  have 
a  place  in  the  economy  of  God's  kingdom,  but  a  high  place,  as 
the  history  of  the  Christian  church  abundantly  illustrates. 

A  revival  therefore  is  the  result  of  harmonious  cooperation, 
God  supplying  the  working  power  and  man  the  means  of  apply- 
ing it.  It  is  produced  according  to  and  by  the  application  of 
given  religious,  spiritual,  mental,  and  physical  laws,  all  of  which 
are  instituted  of  God.  When  God's  conditions  as  formulated  in 
these  laws  are  met,  the  results  will  appear  in  the  quickening  of 
the  church  and  the  conversion  of  sinners. 


GETflNG  READY  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


THE  PREACHER'S  PREPARATION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

STUDYING  the:  SITUATION. 

If  it  is  wortli  one's  while  to  spend  years  in  preparing 
for  the  ministry,  or  to  give  hours  and  even  days  to  the 
preparation  of  a  single  sermon,  it  certainly  is  fitting  to 
devote  weeks  and  even  months  to  preparing  for  the  revi- 
val, the  harvest  and  consummation  of  the  year.  In  point 
of  fadl  in  no  other  branch  of  church  work  is  previous 
preparation  so  important,  or  so  diredlly  remunerative. 
When  a  general  begins  a  campaign  he  seeks  information 
of  the  utmost  possible  accuracy  with  regard  to  the  geo- 
graphical and  topographical  features  of  the  country 
which  is  likely  to  be  the  seat  of  war.  By  various  means 
he  seeks  to  discover  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  the 

17 


i8 


GETTING  READY 


novement  and  disposition  of  his  forces,  and  his  probable 
plans.  He  makes  an  accurate  estimate  of  the  forces  at 
his  own  command,  and  studies  their  points  of  strength 
and  of  weakness.  He  arranges  for  the  proper  supply  of 
food,  of  ammunition,  and  of  other  necessities;  in  short, 
he  provides  for  every  possible  exigency.  After  a  careful 
survey  of  all  the  conditions  affedling  the  case,  he  prepares 
a  thoroughly  matured  plan  of  operations,  which,  with  the 
inevitable  modifications  made  necessary  by  unforeseen 
circumstances,  will  govern  his  army  and  largely  decide 
results.  A  revival  is  a  campaign,  and  requires  the  same 
study,  planning,  and  preparation  of  resources  Many  a 
battle  is  lost  before  it  begins  ;  many  a  revival  service  is  a 
failure  before  it  is  announced.  How  often  a  preacher  in 
the  evangelistic  churches,  feeling  that  a  protradled  meet- 
ing is  expelled  of  him,  and  finding  the  proper  season  at 
hand,  announces  such  a  meeting  at  a  given  date.  At  the 
appointed  time  the  service  begins,  but  the  preacher  is  cold, 
and  the  church,  if  possible,  is  colder  still.  The  outside 
world  is  too  indifferent  to  attend.  It  takes  a  week  to  rouse 
the  preacher,  a  second  is  needed  to  raise  the  spiritual  tem- 
perature among  the  church  members.  At  the  end  of  the 
third  week,  when  pastor  and  people  are  giving  signs  of 
physical  exhaustion,  sinners  are  getting  interested  and  a 
few  are  under  convidtion.    Perhaps  the  revival  closes 


A  REVIVAI,.  19 

witli  simply  this  unfulfilled  promise  of  results,  or,  if  it 
continues,  it  is  not  until  the  fourth  week  is  nearly  gone 
that  the  work  of  salvation  begins  in  earnest.  Owing  to 
extreme  weariness,  or  to  other  engagements  of  the  pastor, 
the  meeting  soon  closes  with  only  a  partial  vidlory.  The 
secret  of  this  waste  of  time  and  labor,  nine  cases  out  of 
ten,  is  inadequate  preparation.  The  preacher  is  not  ready, 
the  church  is  not  ready,  and,  equally  fatal,  sinners  are 
not  ready.  ( 

Dr  Porter  used  to  say  that  where  there  was  uo  revival 
the  preacher  was  the  greatest  obstacle  ,  and  ha  confessed 
that  his  own  early  ministry  was  at  fault.  In  view  of 
the  awful  responsibilities  resting  upon  him  for  the  souls 
of  men,  the  preacher  is  under  peculiar  obligations  to  pre- 
pare himself  in  knowledge,  feeling,  and  purpose,  in  body, 
mind,  and  soul,  for  this  aggressive  work.  "Whatever  the 
condition  of  his  people  or  the  attitude  of  the  unsaved 
may  be,  the  preacher  should  bring  to  the  very  first  service 
the  fullest  possible  preparation.  If  he  is  in  proper  condi- 
tion he  will  soon  give  the  keynote  to  the  meeting,  and 
the  desired  results  will  speedily  follow.  With  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  situation  in  and  out  of  the  church,  he 
knows  what  is  to  be  done.  Having  made  a  study  of  the 
best  methods  of  revival  work  and  gathered  materials,  he 
knows  how  it  is  to  be  done.    By  study  of  the  word  of 


20 


GETTING  READY 


God,  by  prayer  and  faith  and  love  he  has  won  the  power 
by  which  he  is  to  do  it.  The  thoroughly  prepared 
preacher  is  invincible;  his  victory  is  assured. 

That  the  pastor  should  comprehend  the  situation  is 
exceedingly  important.  Without  this  comprehension 
his  work  will  largely  be  a  groping  in  the  dark.  It  is 
worse  than  folly  to  expert  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach  him 
what  he  can  learn  by  his  own  efforts.  But  this  study  of 
environing  conditions  will  take  time;  indeed,  it  is  a  work 
that  is  never  completely  done.  It  requires  a  steady 
observation  from  which  nothing  escapes,  a  faculty  for 
drawing  corredl  and  important  inferences  from  small  facfts 
of  seemingly  little  value,  a  knowledge  of  human  nature 
which  reads  the  motives  and  purposes  of  men.  By 
inquiry  and  observation  the  preacher  should  possess 
himself  of  at  least  the  leading  and  most  influential  fadls 
of  the  general  situation. 

I.  In  the  first  place  the  pastor  should  thoroughly 
know  himself.  The  range  of  his  physical  power  and 
capacity  for  endurance,  the  dangers  to  his  health  and 
vigor,  ought  to  be  definitely  known.  Owing  to  a  lack  of 
this  physical  self-knowledge  many  a  pastor  has  been 
prostrated  in  the  midst  of  a  prosperous  meeting,  which 
then  of  necessity  closed. 

A  careful  review  of  his  mental  gifts,  with  a  keen  eye 
for  his  weaknesses  and  limitations,  has  its  value.  The 


FOR  A  REVIV^r.. 


21 


unimpassioned  logical  preacher  needs  to  know  liis  lack 
of  emotional  power.  The  powerful  preacher  must  learn 
his  want  of  executive  ability.  A  humble,  unegotistical 
study  of  one's  gifts  in  order  to  use  them  for  God  to  the 
greatest  advantage  is  a  Christian  duty.  If  the  servant 
with  five  talents  had  allowed  himself  to  believe  he  had 
but  two,  and  had  managed  accordingly,  his  lord  would 
hardly  have  praised  him  for  the  modesty  that  cost  him 
an  increase  of  three  talents.  On  the  other  hand,  his 
management  would  have  been  equally  unsuccessful  had 
he  proceeded  on  the  false  and  proud  basis  of  a  capital  of 
ten  talents. 

The  preacher  should  have  an  accurate  knowledge  of  his 
own  spiritual  condition  Watching  for  the  souls  of 
his  flock,  a  pastor  sometimes  negledls  to  watch  for  his 
own  His  consecration  in  certain  lines  may  be  complete, 
and  wholly  wanting  in  others  not  so  conspicuous.  He 
may  mistake  the  earnestness  of  habit,  an.  acquired  power 
of  warming  up  to  his  work,  a  professional  earnestness 
shared  by  him  in  common  with  men  m  other  professions, 
for  the  true  religious  earnestness  His  faith  may  simply 
be  a  form  of  self-confidence,  his  love  simply  good-nature. 
A  realization  of  his  condition  in  the  sight  of  God  is  a 
fundamental  necessity.  Ignorance  here  makes  success 
very  doubtful 


22 


GETTING  READY 


2.  Kvery  community  is  an  organized  unit  with  art 
individuality  all  its  own.  Within  certain  bounds  it  has 
logical,  emotional,  and  volitional  laws  peculiar  to  itself. 
It  has  idiosyncrasies  and  whims,  pet  ideas  and  opinions^ 
which  must  be  rCvipedted  and  considered,  if  no  offense  is 
to  be  given.  It  has  peculiar  laws  of  propriety,  social, 
moral  and  religious,  which  it  would  be  hazardous  to  out- 
rage. Some  communities  are  sedate  in  their  religious 
life,  a  few  from  principle,  others  by  mere  force  of  habit 
and  inertia  Other  communities  are  demonstrative  and 
given  to  religious  excitements.  One  community  needs 
argument,  another  a  vivid,  imaginative  presentation  of 
truth,  another  still  can  be  moved  only  by  an  appeal  to  its 
sensibilities,  while  still  another  can  be  helped  by  the 
application  of  a  strong  will  force  from  without.  A  clear 
apprehension  of  the  characteristic  traits  of  a  community 
will  be  a  great  help  to  the  preacher  in  the  adaptation  of 
his  means  and  methods  to  their  needs. 

While  the  church  will  share  the  traits  which  character- 
ize the  community,  it  will  have  in  addition  peculiarities 
of  its  own,  which  need  consideration.  There  will  be 
prejudices  for  or  against  certain  methods  of  work,  and 
certain  forms  of  religious  life,  whicii  taasc  be  utilized 
avoided,  or  removed.  Peculiar  ideas  of  Christian  life  and 
work  will  more  or  less  prevail,  and  exert   an  influence 


FOR.  A  REVIVAL-  23 

for  good  or  evil.  In  one  church  there  is  a  shrinking 
from  public  testimony,  in  another  from  prayer,  in  another 
these  are  made  the  whole  of  the  religious  life  and 
teaching  is  ignored.  Every  church  has  its  peculiar  weak- 
nesses from  which  danger  is  to  be  feared.  It  also  has  its 
peculiar  strength  to  be  used  to  the  best  advantage. 

The  relations  which  exist  among  the  individual  mem- 
bers should  be  well  understood.  Certain  lines  of  cleavage, 
based  on  congeniality  of  character  and  tastes,  not  incom- 
patible with  Christian  love,  govern  the  crystallization  of 
the  social  life  of  the  church.  While  not  only  inevitable 
but  proper,  they  need  watching  lest  by  undue  emphasis 
they  promote  division  and  strife.  Kvery  church  has  its 
leaders  each  of  whom  has  influence  over  a  certain  number 
of  his  fellow  members.  If  any  members  are  indifferent  or 
backslidden  it  is  important  to  know  whose  cooperation 
in  their  restoration  will  be  most  helpful.  In  the 
very  nature  of  things  there  will  be  a  certain  amount  of 
incompatibility  between  some  of  the  members  of  the 
society;  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  degree  and  the 
causes  should  be  sought.  Should  there  be  positive  ill- 
will,  or  a  quarrel  of  old  standing,  a  quiet,  unobserved, 
utterly  unbiased  investigation  needs  to  be  made  by  the 
pastor,  if  for  no  other  reason,  for  his  own  guidance  in  the 
management  of  the  church. 


24  GETTING  READY 

The  standing  in  the  community  of  each  Christian 
should  be  more  or  less  definitely  known.  Occasionally 
there  are  those  who  stand  high  in  the  church,  and  some- 
times deservedly  so,  who  have  lost  their  influence  in 
the  community.  A  knowledge  of  this  will  diredt  the 
use  to  be  made  of  them.  Inconsistent  Christians  often 
have  so  deleterious  an  influence  upon  the  world  that 
it  is  better  to  refuse  to  use  them  publicly  until  they 
make  public  confession  and  set  their  wrong-doing 
right  as  far  as  that  may  be  possible.  In  a  meeting 
held  some  years  ago  by  the  writer,  two  of  the  most 
adlive  workers  were  afterward  discovered  by  him  to 
be  persons  of  the  most  unsavory  reputation  and  they 
were  expelled.  The  harm  the}^  had  done  who  can 
measure?  Again,  the  true  value  of  some  of  the  less  self- 
assertive  members  is  often  underestimated.  They  need 
to  be  brought  out  and  their  influence  in  the  community 
utilized.  Dr.  Cuyler  very  wisely  remarks,  ''The  only 
people  in  our  churches  who  really  do  much  good  are  those 
who  have  established  a  confidence  in  their  own  sincerity, 
and  who  get  credit  for  a  disinterested  benevolence. 
Ungodly  persons  will  sometimes  phrase  their  opinions  of 

church  members  on  this  wise  :    '  I  believe  in  Mr.  A  . 

He  pays  his  debts,  and  he  came  to  sit  up  with  me  when 
I  was  sick.    He's  no  Pharisee/    Now  such  a  Mr,.  A  


FOR  A  REVIVAIv.  25 

is  the  only  one  who  has  sufiiciently  won  the  confidence 
of  impenitent  people  to  win  them  over  to  Christ.  No 
others  need  make  the  attempt  " 
^  The  pastor  must  know  the  amount  and  nature  of  the 
talents  of  each  individual  member.  In  the  average 
church  one-half  of  its  ability  is  still  undeveloped.  A 
few  leading  spirits  are  allowed  to  overwork  their  talents 
until  they  get  the  church  into  a  rut,  while  the  less  for- 
ward members  of  perhaps  equal  capacity  lie  fallow  and 
useless.  These  undeveloped  workers  are  to  be  studied 
and  their  real  power  estimated.  One  is  not  much  of  a 
speaker  but  is  apt  in  quoting  striking  and  pertinent 
texts.  Another  can  always  be  depended  upon  for  some 
fresh  and  impressive  remarks,  full  of  suggestiveness  and 
power.  Still  another  has  less  intelle(5lual  vigor  but  a 
more  enthusiastic  style  which  moves  the  people.  An- 
other is  tender  and  melting,  quick  to  stir  sensibilities. 
I  once  had  a  worker  who  rarely  spoke,  but  when  he  did 
he  put  €o  much  of  feeling  and  power  into  it  that  it 
invariably  gave  the  meeting  a  new  start.  Some  cannot 
be  utilized  to  any  special  advantage  as  talkers,  but  can 
pray  with  uncftion  and  power.  One  can  pray  in  the  quiet 
prayer-meeting  with  good  efFedl,  but  is  not  so  valuable  in 
the  more  stirring  revival  meeting;  while  another  can  do 
Jiis  best  only  under  the  inspiration  of  the  latter  service. 


26 


GETTIXG  READY 


There  may  be  a  number  in  the  church  who  have  no  gifts 
for  public  efforts,  but  are  effeclive  in  personal,  private 
work.  Another  class  is  might}'  in  secret  prayer,  in 
unwavering  faith,  and  has  power  with  God  if  not  with 
man.  By  family  and  social  ties,  or  b}'  personal  influence, 
ever}'  Christian  has  power  over  some  outsiders.  It  is 
peculiarly  important  that  the  persons  over  whom  it  can 
be  exerted  and  its  extent  be  known  to  the  pastor.  Its 
use  often  turns  the  critical  point  in  a  sinner's  case,  while 
a  mistake  may  do  irreparable  injur}-.  It  may  be  safelj'' 
said  that  no  Christian  lacks  the  one  talent,  and  the  ^^-ise 
pastor  seeks  to  know  its  nature  and  where  and  how  to  use 
it.  A  just  faith  in  the  ability  of  his  people  opens  great 
resources  to  the  taclfiil  preacher.  Over-estimation  will 
do  less  harm  than  imder-estimation,  although  both,  of 
course,  are  to  be  avoided.  By  personal  obser^'ation,  b}' 
seemingh'  incidental  inquir}'  among"  the  members,  and 
b}'  actual  experiment,  the  value  of  each  member  for 
religious  work  ma}'  be  quietly  but  accurately  ascertained.  , 

The  relations  of  the  church  to  the  outside  world  are 
also  a  proper  subject  of  investigation.  Churches  differ 
in  their  public  influence  even  as  do  individuals.  By  a 
seeming  indifference  to  the  outside  world,  by  the  incon- 
sistencies of  its  members  as  manifested  in  their  business 
and  social  life,  or  even  in  the  church  life  itself,  or  by  a 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  2/ 

lack  of  religious  vitality,  churches  sometimes  lose  the 
respecl  of  the  community.  Again,  by  indiscreet  man- 
agement, or  by  unavoidable  circumstances,  an  antagonism 
has  arisen  between  the  church  and  the  unsaved  part  of 
the  community.  Some  churches  are  robbed  of  their 
religious  influence  by  their  high  social  standing,  others 
by  their  utter  lack  of  it.  Churches  often  lose  their  hold 
upon  the  world  by  their  lack  of  enterprise  and  aggress- 
iveness in  the  temporal  aspe(5ls  of  church  life.  All  these 
and  other  kindred  fadls  the  pastor  should  know,  that  he 
may  use  the  advantages  and  neutralize  the  disadvantages 
they  represent. 

Every  church  appeals  to  a  fairly  defined  constituency 
in  the  community  that  is  peculiarly  its  own.  Its  spirit 
and  methods  of  work,  its  social  and  mental  culture,  its 
undefinable  indi«viduality,  attract  certain  elements  in  the 
community  more  strongly  than  they  do  others.  It  is 
important  that  the  pastor  know  not  only  this  con- 
stituency and  its  ruling  ideas,  but  also  what  elements  in 
the  life  of  the  church  attra(5t  it,  in  order  that  he  may  on 
the  one  hand  adapt  his  methods  and  direcfl  the  life  of  the 
church  so  as  to  strengthen  these  bonds  and  use  them  for 
drawing  the  unsaved  part  of  this  constituency  into  the 
kingdom  and  into  the  church,  and  on  the  other  to  so  add 
to  the  power  of  the  church  as  to  increase  its  constituency 
and  influence. 


28  ,  GETTING  READY- 

3.  Essential  as  it  is  for  a  general  to  know  his  own 
resources,  it  is  equally  so  to  know  those  of  the  enemy. 
A  spiritual  general  needs  to  know  the  opposing  forces 
with  which  he  has  to  contend.  What  are  the  prevalent 
forms  of  sin  and  vice  in  the  community  ?  To  awaken  the 
conscience  of  the  people,  the  adlual  concrete  sins  of 
which  it  has  been  guilty  must  be  exposed  and  set  forth 
in  their  true  light.  Especially  should  the  lives  of  those 
whose  attendance  is  to  be  expedled  at  the  special  ser\aces 
be  thoroughly  known  to  the  preacher,  not  for  purposes 
of  personal  or  even  indirecft  denunciation  which  w^ould 
only  antagonize  and  revolt,  but  as  an  assumption  of  the 
true  state  of  the  case  which  shall  justify  the  truth  pre- 
sented and  its  application  to  that  case. 

The  ideals  of  Christian  life,  the  conceptions  of  Chris- 
tian doctrine,  the  arguments  brought  to  bear  against  the 
Christian  religion  and  the  church,  the  cause  and  extent 
of  any  antagonisms  or  resentment  against  the  church 
and  the  truth,  which  obtain  in  the  sinner's  mind,  should 
all  be  known  to  the  preacher  as  far  as  may  be  possible. 
Once  he  is  able  to  put  himself  in  thought  into  the  atti- 
tude of  the  sinner  and  get  his  point  of  view,  he  will  find 
the  great  advantage  to  be  not  so  much  the  mere  answer- 
ing of  objecftions  or  the  corredlion  of  misapprehensions, 
as  the  ability  to  put  the  truth  in  a  form  that  will  take 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  29 

■hold  Upon  the  mind  of  the  sinner.  The  power  of  Mr. 
Jones,  and  of  many  evangelists  and  ministers  whose  past 
lives  of  sin  seem  to  be  strangely  enough  an  advantage  to 
their  present  blessed  work,  has  been  in  no  small  measure 
due  to  their  ability  to  read  the  sinner's  thoughts,  to  give 
form  to  his  ideas,  and  to  put  the  truth  into  the  language 
which    finds"  him. 

The  social  organization  among  the  unsaved  is  another 
important  study.  A  wise  pastor  became  acquainted  with 
the  youngest  member  of  a  class  of  seven  young  men 
who  were  studying  in  a  seledl  school,  and  succeeded  in 
leading  him  to  Christ.  Through  him  he  gradually 
became  acquainted  with  the  other  six  and  one  by  one  led 
them  to  accept  Christ  as  their  Savior.  One  Sabbath 
morning  coming  down  from  the  pulpit,  he  approached  a 
circle  of  young  men,  when  one  of  them  exclaimed, 
**Here  we  are,  our  old  class  of  seven,  all  united  to 
Christ!"  By  deftly  using  the  social  bonds  that  united 
them  he  won  them  all  when  many  another  pastor  would 
have  been  satisfied  with  the  first  alone. 

Single  out  the  leaders  and  study  them.  I^earn  the 
charadler  and  extent  of  their  influence  both  with  refer- 
ence to  the  persons  influenced  and  its  controlling  power. 
Ferret  out  their  weak  points  and  the  susceptibilities  of 
their  natures  to  religious  truth.    An  accurate  knowledge 


30  GETTING  RKADY 

of  these  leaders  and  the  proper  adaptation  of  means  and 
methods  for  reaching  them  will  under  God  sweep  the 
community. 

A  definite  knowledge  of  the  exadl  number  and  where- 
abouts of  the  unsaved  ought  also  to  be  obtained.  A 
canvass  of  the  Sunday-school  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing a  full  and  accurate  list  of  the  unsaved  persons  in  the 
school  should  early  be  made.  The  record  should  be  kept 
by  classes  under  the  names  of  the  teachers,  as  the  coop- 
eration of  the  latter  will  be  needed.  At  the  same  time 
the  name,  residence,  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  par- 
ents may  be  learned,  as  through  the  child  the  parents  may 
often  be  won.  In  a  country  neighborhood  the  name  and 
residence  of  every  family  in  which  there  are  unconverted 
persons,  within  a  radius  of  three  miles,  should  be 
obtained  by  personal  visitation  and  inquiry,  and  each 
individual  name  kept  recorded.  In  the  village  or  city  a 
thorough  house  to  house  canvass  should  be  made,  taking 
the  name  of  at  least  every  family,  if  not  of  every  indi- 
vidual, and  a  permanent  record  made  of  their  spiritual 
condition,  and  of  their  church  and  Sunday-school  rela- 
tions In  general  it  would  be  better  that  the  pastor 
himself  make  this  canvass  as  he  will  learn  many  helpful 
things  that  another  person  cannot  put  on  record  for  him. 
Yet  in  some  few  places  the  rivalry  between  the  different 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  31 

denominations,  or  a  peculiar  public  sentiment,  may  make 
it  more  advisable  to  send  some  other  discreet  and  com- 
petent person  to  perform  the  work,  doing  it  in  a  more 
secular  and  business-like  way.  It  may  also  be  done  by 
a  committee  of  the  members;  but  while  this  method  has 
its  advantages  it  has  also  all  the  disadvantages  under 
which  the  pastor  would  labor,  and  the  unity  and  likely 
the  accuracy  of  the  work  would  be  impaired. 

A  regular  canvass  book  ought  to  be  prepared,  which 
can  be  done  at  the  cost  of  only  a  few  dollars  An  oblong 
book,  perhaps  eight  by  ten  inches,  will  be  the  most  con- 
venient. The  following  facfts  are  certainly  important: 
name  in  full,  street  and  number  of  residence,  number  in 
family,  church  relations  if  any,  number  unconverted, 
and  number  of  children  not  in  Sunday-school;  a  space 
should  also  be  left  for  remarks  in  which  other  fadls  may 
be  noted.  If  this  canvass  is  thoroughly  and  accurately 
made,  the  book  becomes  a  record  of  the  religious  condi- 
tion of  the  people  such  as  can  be  gained  in  no  other  way. 
From  this  record  an  abstradl  of  the  families  who  are 
without  church  relations  can  easily  be  made,  the  list 
being  systemized  geographically  for  future  convenience. 
If  the  pastor  has  made  the  canvass  himself  he  can  make 
out  a  further  list  of  individuals  in  Christian  homes  who 
remain  unconverted  and  who  may  seem  accessible,  With 


32  GETTING  READY 

these  lists  in  hand  the  pastor  knows  exadlly  what  he  has 
to  do,  and  can  arrange  his  plans  accordingly.  The  value 
of  such  a  canvass  is  simply  not  to  be  overestimated.  The 
pastor  who  has  once  given  it  a  thorough  trial  will  never 
again  consent  to  work  in  a  community  on  the  haphazard, 
accidental  plan 


FOR  A  RISVIVAL. 


33 


CHAPTER  11. 

PREPARING  MKANS  AND  METHODS. 

During  a  revival  tlie  preacher  is  so  taken  up  between 
services  with  pastoral  duties  among  ChrivStians  and  the 
unsaved,  that  little  leisure  remains  for  study  and  medita- 
tion. It  is  quite  essential,  therefore,  to  the  best  work  in 
the  pulpit,  that  an  ample  amount  of  homileticai  material 
shall  have  been  previously  gathered.  While  the  natural 
excitement  of  the  work,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  will  quicken  the  memory,  and  vivify  the  imagina- 
tion, it  is  a  mistake  to  rely  on  these  alone.  The  Holy 
Spirit  often  gives  a  clearer  insight  into  a  truth  and  opens 
out  relations  between  certain  fadls  not  before  seen,  but 
the  truth  and  the  facfls  had  previously  been  stored  away 
in  the  memory  As  a  general  rule  he  employs  the  men- 
tal resources  already  accumulated.  If  he  is  to  have  a 
wide  range  of  materials  from  which  to  seledl  the  most 
timely  and  effedlive  text,  thought,  or  illustration,  it  is 
necessary  that  the  mind  be  previously  well  furnished. 

I.  Other  things  being  equal,  the  freshest  and  most 
striking  text  will  produce  the  freshest  and  most  striking 

3 


34  GETTING  READY  • 

sermon.  A  fresh  text  presents  the  old  truths  from  a  new 
point  of  view,  and  offers  fresh  lines  of  thought  and  forms 
of  expression.  It  arrests  the  attention  and  provokes  the 
intelledlual  interest  which  precedes  spiritual  interest.  A 
happy  text  often  accomplishes  more  than  the  sermon 
which  follows.  But  such  texts  are  not  revealed  by  an 
arbitrary  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  They  must  be 
sought  with  care.  In  looking  over  a  number  of  lists  of 
the  texts  used  by  various  preachers,  it  is  astonishing 
to  find  how  little  they  vary.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  one-half 
the  revival  preaching  in  our  churches  rests  on  less  than 
one  hundred  texts.  The  consequence  is  that  year  after 
year  approximately  the  same  series  of  texts  and  the  same 
lines  of  thought  fall  upon  the  ears  of  the  unsaved.  Ser- 
mons have  power  by  the  general  impression  they  leave 
rather  than  by  any  definite  logical  idea  they  impress  upon 
the  memory.  The  repetition  of  ideas  may  not  be  noticed 
by  the  hearer,  but  unconsciously  a  callousness  of  mind 
and  heart  is  produced  by  the  repetition  of  the  impression, 
and  susceptibility  is  destroyed  without  absolute  loss  of 
the  intelledlual  interest.  It  is  always  important  that  the 
preacher  be  fresh,  but  in  the  revival  service  it  is  an  abso- 
lute necessity  that  he  leave  the  beaten  track,  finding 
things  new  as  well  as  old  in  the  treasury  of  the  Word. 
But  in  order  to  do  this  there  must  be  previous  provision. 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  35 

In  his  study  of  the  Scriptures  during  the  year  every 
text  that  strikes  the  preacher  as  adapted  for  revival  work 
should  be  noted  and  a  record  made  of  the  line  of  thought 
it  suggested.  In  like  manner  the  more  extended  readings 
for  exposition  and  the  chief  points  they  present  should 
be  preserved  for  use  in  day  services  and  other  fitting 
occasions.  To  make  them  more  accessible,  these  texts 
and  readings  should  be  classified.  The  condition  of  the 
meeting  requiring  seemingly  a  given  theme,  the  record 
under  that  subjecft  will  yield  not  only  a  fresh  and  perti- 
nent text,  but  also  many  collateral  scriptures  for  proof 
and  illustration.  The  recorded  sermon  outline  can  in  a 
few  moments  be  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  hour,  and  in 
a  little  while  a  discourse  is  prepared  that  without  pre- 
vious gathering  of  materials  would  have  required  a  whole 
day  of  study.  In  this  way  the  proper  amount  of  time 
can  be  devoted  to  the  pastoral  work, — the  private  preach- 
ing that  is  often  so  effedlive, — and  to  that  personal 
religious  preparation  and  accumulation  of  religious  and 
divine  power  which  is  so  essential,  without  the  haunting 
fear  that  the  pulpit  work  is  suffering. 

2.  Its  lack  of  illustrations  robs  many  an  otherwise 
powerful  discourse  of  its  edge.  A  telling  anecdote 
clinches  the  nail  which  the  hammer  of  logic  has  driven. 
The  abstradl  becomes  flesh,  as  it  were,  in  the  anecdote, 


36  GETTING  READY 

is  translated  into  concrete  terms  which  the  imagination 
can  grasp.  As  the  first  aim  of  revival  preaching  is  to 
awaken  a  keen  realization  of  spiritual  truth  as  adlual  and 
tangible,  it  ought  by  all  means  to  abound  in  anecdotes 
and  illustrations.  But  there  is  no  leisure  for  seeking 
illustrations  during  a  revival.  IVIost  preachers  depend 
upon  their  memories  to  call  up  comparisons  and  anecdotes 
which  they  ha\e  casually  read  in  various  periodicals. 
The  memories  of  some  men  will  not  suffer  a  striking 
illustration  to  escape  however  hastily  it  may  have  been 
read.  But  these  anecdotal  geniuses  are  rare.  The  number 
of  anecdotes  the  memory  of  the  average  preacher  will 
retain  and  yield  at  the  fitting  season  is  very  small,  and 
most  men  must  be  content  to  reinforce  their  memories 
with  carefully  kept  records  and  systemized  scrap-books. 

Not  every^  illustration  or  anecdote  that  is  valuable  for  a 
regular  discourse  is  fitted  for  the  revival  sermon.  To 
adorn,  to  explain,  or  to  prove,  the  ordinary  uses  of  illus- 
tration, they  still  have  a  place,  but  they  are  subordinated 
to  the  purpose  of  reaching  the  will  by  impressing  the 
feelings  and  waking  the  emotions  of  the  hearer.  Its 
appeal  to  the  heart  is  the  final  test  of  the  value  of  an  illus- 
tration for  revival  purposes. 

Tried  by  this  test  there  is  a  change  from  the  standards 
pbtaining  for  regular  discourses  in  the  relative  impor- 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  37 

tance  of  illustrations.  Mere  dignity  and  beauty  taking 
the  lowermost  seats  and  being  but  little  considered, 
whole  classes  of  illustrations,  scientific  and  historical, 
are  ruled  out  as  worthy  of  only  the  rarest  use.  The  rela- 
tive value  of  illustrations  for  proof  also  suffers  a  change, 
as  those  containing  an  emotional  element  are  to  be  pre- 
ferred. In  explanatory  illustrations  the  appeal  to  the 
sympathies  is  even  more  emphasized  and  demanded. 
Added  to  these  comes  in  a  class  of  illustrations  which 
usuall}^  have  little  place  in  dignified  discourse,  those, 
which  have  no  other  objecl  than  the  touching  of  the 
heart.  Logic  here  is  not  that  of  the  head,  but  that  of 
the  heart,  it  is  not  the  harmony  of  ideas  but  of  feelings 
When  one  heart-string  is  set  in  motion  its  related  accord- 
ant strings  are  thrilled  as  w^ell,  and  are  prepared  to 
respond  more  quickly  and  powerfulh^  when  their  help  is 
neededj  Npt  so  much  the  illustration  of  a  thought  as  the 
preparation  of  the  heart  to  receive  a  thought  is  here  the 
legitimate  puipose.  "^^ — 
While  the  anecdote  is  rarely  accorded  a  place  in  the 
more  dignified  forms  of  discourse,  it  is  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  use  of  the  revival  worker.  It  gives  variety  and 
movement,  and  thus  adds  interest  and  chains  the  atten- 
tion. It  appeals  to  the  mind  and  heart  of  every  class, 
young  and  old,  cultured  and  illiterate.    Adults  are  after 


38  GETTING  READY 

all  but  grown-ui3  children  and  have  not  out-grown  their 
love  for  stories,  as  the  numerous  coUedlions  of  ana  in 
literary,  scientific,  artistic,  and  other  fields  of  knowledge 
abundantly  testifj'.  Even  Disraeli  confesses,  "  I  have 
often  found  anecdotes  of  an  author  more  interesting 
than  his  works."  The  anecdote  brings  an  idea  within 
the  range  of  human  sympathy  as  no  other  form  of  illus- 
tration can.  As  violin  answers  to  violin,  so  the  heart 
responds  to  the  history  of  the  beating  of  other  hearts. 
For  revival  purposes  therefore  the  anecdote  must  remain 
the  leading,  and  the  most  powerful  and  effecTiive  form  o£ 
illustration. 

In  the  selection  of  materials  the  following  essential 
elements  of  an  effe(5tive  revival  anecdote  should  be  kept 
in  view. 

I.  It  must  be  brief.  Every  detail  which  is  unimportant^ 
or  which  the  hearer  can  infer  from  the  details  already 
stated,  ought  to  be  omitted.  During  the  progress  of  a 
long  tale  the  attention  of  the  hearer  is  wearied  by  the 
suspense  of  the  mind  uncertain  of  the  connedtion  to  be 
established  between  the  thought  and  its  illustration;  or 
what  is  worse,  the  idea  to  be  emphasized  is  entirely  for- 
gotten. The  progress  of  thought  is  broken,  and  the 
unity  of  the  discourse,  destroyed.  Moreover,  it  will 
occupy  too  large  a  part  of  the  short  revival  discourse. 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI..  39 

2.  The  anecdote  must  have  point.  No  mere  stringing 
together  of  details  will  be  effedlive.  It  must  have  unity, 
must  make  progress  as  it  develops,  and  must  culminate 
in  some  fa(5l,  sentence,  or  phrase  of  such  interest  as  to 
jUvStify  its  narration,  and  of  such  meaning  as  to  mark  a 
definite  step  in  the  development  of  the  thought,  or  to 
produce  an  impression  upon  the  sensibilities  of  the 
hearer.  If  the  point  is  concentrated  in  a  single  phrase, 
it  will  be  all  the  more  incisive  and  valuable. 

3.  Life  and  dramatic  force  are  desirable  elements  in  a 
revival  anecdote.  They  afford  a  larger  opportunity  for 
the  exercise  of  skill  in  the  narration,  and  make  the  anec- 
dote more  interesting  to  the  hearer,  and  more  impressive. 
This  is  the  case  however  only  when  the  immediate  efifedl 
upon  the  will  is  desired.  When  the  purpose  is  instrudlion, 
the  more  striking  and  interesting  the  illustration  the 
more  likely  is  the  hearer  to  remember  the  illustration  and 
forget  the  truth  illustrated. 

4.  A  large  proportion  of  revival  anecdotes  ought  to 
make  a  diredl  appeal  to  the  sensibilities  of  the  hearer. 
An  appeal  to  the  fundamental  affediions, — to  the  mutual 
love  of  parents  and  children,  of  brothers  and  sisters,  of 
husbands  and  wives, — rarely  fails  to  meet  a  response. 
But  the  broader  sympathies, —  for  children,  for  the  heroic 
and  brave,  for  the  divStressed  in  body  or  mind, — are 


40  GETTING  READY 

hardly  less  responsive,  and  deserve  the  attention  of  the 
revival  speaker.  Anecdotes  which  stir  the  emotional 
nature,  the  sense  of  the  beautiful,  even,  or  of  the  sub- 
lime, which  wake  joy  or  sadness,  or  generate  enthusiasm, 
or  put  in  motion  any  of  the  other  aggressive  emotions 
which  can  be  utilized  for  moving  the  will  to  make  a  right 
choice,  are  extremely  valuable,  and  should  be  sought 
with  great  diligence.  Every  part  of  the  sensibilities  of 
the  hearer  may  thus  be  played  upon  and  used  to  affedt 
the  will,  and  induce  its  adtion  in  the  desired  diredtion. 

5.  An  anecdote  to  be  useful  must  be  fresh.  An  oldL 
anecdote  awakens  no  interest  in  the  hearer  because  the 
element  of  surprise  has  been  eliminated.  An  unexpedled 
application  of  a  well  known  incident,  however,  is  pecu- 
liarly effedlive.  The  use  of  the  stock  anecdotes  which 
are  in  every  speaker's  mouth  can  add  little  to  the  effedl- 
iveness  of  a  sermon.  Their  powder  was  burnt  long  ago, 
and  their  value  is  a  thing  of  the  past.  A  constant  sup- 
ply of  fresh  incidents  must  therefore  be  secured  from  the 
various  sources  the  preacher  may  be  able  to  command. 

The  preacher's  general  reading  ought  to  furnish  a 
goodly  amount  of  illustrative  material.  The  religious 
press  teems  with  valuable  illustrations  with  the  appro- 
priate applications.  Even  the  secular  press  with  its 
varied  panorama  of  human  life  will  offer  a  fruitful  field 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  4I 

to  the  thoughtful  reader.  Books  of  travel  and  history, 
of  biography  and  of  historical  and  literary  reminiscences 
will  occasionally  furnish  an  illustration  of  great  value. 

Illustrations  used  by  other  preachers,  whether  gath- 
ered from  their  printed  sermons  or  addresses,  or  from 
their  lips,  are  lawful  prizes,  of  course,  and  should  be 
carefully  preserved.  And  yet  there  must  be  some  judg- 
ment exercised;  a  personal  experience  or  observation 
may  have  been  impressive  and  striking  not  because  of 
inherent  and  obje(5live  value  but  because  of  the  mingling 
-of  the  personality  of  the  speaker  with  it,  and  a  repetition 
by  any  one  else  would  prove  a  failure. 

But  the  best  sources  are  personal  experience  and 
observation.  Few  men  work  this  quarry  as  much  as  it 
deserves.  Comparatively  interesting  incidents  have  a 
strange  charm  when  related  as  personal  knowledge.  Com- 
ing to  the  people  at  first  hand,  there  is  a  vitality  about 
an  anecdote  which  the  speaker  culls  from  his  own  expe- 
rience which  all  other  illustrations  lack.  It  is  this 
'element  which  adds  so  much  effedliveness  to  Moody's 
anecdotes.  Few  lives  are  so  monotonous  and  barren  as 
not  to  furnish  a  large  number  of  interesting  incidents 
and  experiences.  Nqwhere  will  the  keen  homiletical  eye 
-discover  more  illustrative  treasures  than  in  the  revival 
service  itself.    Incidents,  conversations,  impressions,  and 


42 


GETTING  READY 


other  experiences  and  observations  may  be  used  imme- 
diately, or  in  future  meetings  with,  excellent  results.  It 
is  fatal  for  most  men  to  trust  to  their  memories.  The 
event  is  so  striking,  and  the  impression  made  upon  the 
mind  so  vivid  that  one  is  sure  that  whatever  else  is  for- 
gotten this  certainly  will  be  retained.  But  a  week  or 
two  pass  and  it  fades;  it  is  an  accident  if  it  is  ever  called 
up  again.  Each  day  a  short  suggestive  record  should  be 
made  of  such  matter  as  promises  to  be  useful  in  the 
future.  The  records  of  pastoral  visitation  during  the 
3^ear  will  add  to  this  valuable  store.  Nor  should  any 
one  be  dissuaded  from  the  use  of  these  personal  expe- 
riences and  observations  by  the  fear  of  being  charged 
with  egotism.  Too  great  a  fear  of  being  considered  ego- 
tistical only  proves  the  charge  well-founded.  Nor  should 
any  self-conscious  modesty  lead  the  preacher  to  make  the 
narration  of  his  experiences  impersonal,  or  to  hide  his 
participation  in  them,  for  by  so  doing  he  surrenders  van- 
tage ground  which  he  cannot  afford  to  lose.  One  ought 
to  learn  to  speak  of  his  own  experiences  with  as  little 
self-consciousness  as  of  those  of  other  persons,  and  when 
that  is  done  there  will  be  no  imputation  of  egotism. 

While  of  course  a  private  collecftion  gathered  from 
many  sources,  private  and  public,  is  most  valuable, 
cyclopedias  of  illustrations  are  not  wholly  to  be  despised. 


FOR  A  REVIVAI,.  43 

They  yield  many  illustrations  whicli  lie  outside  of  the 
range  of  the  reading  and  experience  of  the  average 
preacher.  Moody's  anecdotes  have  been  gathered  up  by 
various  editors  and  are  easily  accessible,  albeit  somewhat 
threadbare  and  too  generally  known  ' '  Cabinet  of  Illustra- 
tions," a  little  magazine  once  published  by  Howard 
Gannett,  of  Boston,  is  a  rich  gathering  of  illustrative 
materials  bound  volumes  of  which  may  be  obtained  by 
addressing  the  former  publisher.  "The  Gospel  Worker's 
Treasury,"  a  collecftion  of  anecdotes,  texts,  themes  and 
readings  peculiarly  adapted  for  revival  work  made  by  the 
writer,  has  been  widely  used.  When  a  lack  of  means 
forbids  many  periodicals  and  books,  or  life  gives  small 
opportunity  for  varied  experience  or  observation,  they 
become  absolutely  indispensable.  Indeed  there  are  few 
preachers  that  can  afford  to  ignore  them  altogether. 

There  is  no  better  source  of  illustration  than  the  Bible 
itself.  Its  historical  portions  are  a  never-failing  spring, 
if  properly  used.  Many  preachers  fail  to  make  scriptural 
illustrations  interesting  because  they  reduce  them  to  a 
mere  reference,  or  a  dry  narration  of  fadts.  Nothing  can 
be  more  interesting  than  a  scriptural  incident  when  thq 
human  heart  beats  in  it  again,  when  the  kinship  in  feel- 
ing and  thought  of  the  ancients  with  ourselves  is  made 
to  appear.    I  never  shall  forget  the  description  I  heard  at 


44  GETTING  READY 

a  camp-meeting  in  \'irginia  of  the  return  of  Benjamin 
from  Eg3'pt  and  his  meeting  with  Jacob,  by  a  good  and 
able  minister  whose  fame  as  an  eloquent  preacher  fills  the 
Shenandoah  Valley.  For  dramatic  interest  and  mo^dng 
pathos  it  far  excelled  an}'  anecdote  I  ever  heard  from 
Mood3''s  or  any  other  man's  lips. 

A  careful  record  should  be  kept  b}'  the  preacher  of  all 
such  biblical  incidents  as  seem  to  be  fitted  to  illustrate 
revival  themes  in  a  living  and  dramatic  wa}'. 

Not  only  should  illustrations  be  sought  for  the  sermon, 
but  for  the  song  as  well.  An  effective  anecdote  pertinent 
to  the  leading  sentiment  of  a  h3'mn  doubles  its  value  as 
a  part  of  the  revival  ser^'ice.  It  calls  attention  to  the 
thought  and  prevents  the  people  from  singing  it  in  a 
pureh'  mechanical  and  thoughtless  wa}'.  These  anec- 
dotes need  to  be  provided  previoush'  even  more  carefully 
than  those  intended  for  the  sermon,  and  should  be 
recorded  with  the  hj-mns  the}'  are  fitted  to  illustrate.  It 
is  a  good  plan  to  write  the  titles  of  these  illustrative 
anecdotes  over  their  respective  h3'mns  in  the  hymn-book 
used  b}'  the  preacher,  in  order  that  they  ma}'  always  be 
at  hand  when  needed. 

The  record  of  illustrations  gathered  from  all  sources 
should  be  thoroughly  systemized,  so  that  as  the  materials 
accumulate  they  will  always  be  classified,  and  so  more 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  45 

accessible  to  the  preacher.  Otherwise  the  records  will  be 
in  chaotic  confusion,  and  when  he  wishes  illustrations 
for  a  given  theme  he  must  search  through  the  whole  col- 
lection. If  the  record  be  kept  in  a  book  a  certain 
number  of  pages  may  be  allotted  to  each  general  subjedl, 
and  the  illustrations  entered  under  their  respecftive  sub- 
jecfts.  As  a  large  proportion  of  the  gathered  matter  will 
be  in  the  shape  of  clippings,  abetter  way  will  perhaps 
be  to  use  a  letter  file  made  of  strong  manilla  paper  with 
a  compartment  for  each  letter  of  the  alphabet  which  may 
be  obtained  of  almost  any  stationer.  To  each  of  these 
compartments  a  subjedl  may  be  assigned,  and  the  scraps 
distributed  as  they  are  gathered.  Illustrations  found  in 
books  or  gathered  from  oral  or  personal  sources  can  be 
copied  on  slips  of  paper  adapted  to  the  size  of  the  file. 
"Breed's  Portfolio  Scrap-Book,"  published  by  Merrill, 
Hubbard  &  Co.,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  is  very  convenient, 
as  is  also  the  more  elaborate  "Supplemental  Encyclo- 
pedia," of  Crafts,  issued  by  Funk  &  Wagnalls.  What- 
ever the  plan,  it  is  important  that  the  preacher's  mater- 
ials be  classified  and  accessible  at  a  moment's  notice. 

3.  Careful  provision  must  be  made  for  the  songs  to  be 
used  during  the  meeting  that  is  to  be  held.  It  will  not 
do  to  trust  to  the  spontaneous  development  of  the  song 
service,  nor  to  the  facft  that  a  book  is  already  provided. 


46  GETTING  RE.\DY 

The  resources  of  that  book  must  be  under  immediate 
command,  that  selections  appropriate  to  the  feeling  of 
the  meeting-  may  be  quickly  made.  A  variety  of  songs 
of  invitation  will  be  needed.  Songs  of  consecration  for 
the  opening  of  the  ser^-ices  are  important.  Songs  that 
have  the  ring-  of  victory  in  them,  and  begetting  faith  and 
enthusiasm  must  be  provided.  If  the  proper  musical 
help  is  at  hand,  solos,  duets,  or  quartettes  may  be 
selected.  Hymns  of  eternity,  judgment,  or  the  destiny 
of  the  impenitent  dead  are  particularly  effective  rendered 
in  this  way.  The  numbers  of  these  various  h^-mns 
should  be  committed  to  memory  in  order  that  the 
preacher  may  announce  the  appropriate  h^*mn  at  once 
without  turning  to  the  book.  It  may  be  that  the  book 
that  has  been  in  use  is  worn  out.  and  it  would  be  wiser 
to  procure  something  fresher  and  more  striking,  or  some 
small  book  may  be  procured  to  supplement  the  one  in 
use.  In  the  selection  of  such  a  book  three  things  should 
lje__kept  in  mind:  the  book  must  cover  the  range  of  sub- 
jects required  and  furnish  useftd  popular  songs  in  each 
line  of  thought;  it  should  at  least  contain  the  words  of 
the  standard  revival  songs  without  which  the  song  ele- 
ment of  any  revival  meeting-  would  be  crippled;^  and  it 
should  furnish  a  goodly  number  of  new  songs  of  a  thor^ 
oughly  popular  character,  with  a  striking^  sentiment 


I^OR  A  REVIVAI,.  47 

easily  understood,  and  with  music  so  easy  that  the 
science  of  music  may  be  forgotten  after  they  have  been 
sung  a  few  times,  and  so  taking  that  the  people  will  be 
inclined  to  sing  them  spontaneously. 

It  is  exceedingly  important  that  these  musical  matters 
be  not  negledled  as  they  are  too  often  done.  That  the 
preacher  has  no  musical  knowledge  or  skill  does  not 
excuse  him.  He  must  seek  the  counsel  of  competent 
persons  in  or  out  of  the  community  with  reference  to  the 
seledlion  of  the  book,  and  when  the  book  is  seledled  he 
certainly  can  study  its  hymns  and  learn  their  value  and 
availability.  In  this  the  assistance  of  the  person  to 
whom  he  must  look  for  the  diredlion  of  the  music  during 
the  meeting  ought  to  be  sought.  He  must  thus  become 
master  of  the  spiritual  side  of  the  song  service  even  if  he 
may  not  be  competent  to  diredl  the  music  in  person. 

4.  The  success  of  a  revival  often  depends  more  on  the 
management  than  it  does  on  the  preaching.  Kvery  single 
service  presents  in  one  form  or  another  a  new  exigency 
and  demands  some  new  adaptation  of  methods.  It  is 
important,  therefore,  that  the  preacher  have  large 
resources  in  ways  of  working.  While  some  men  are 
gifted  with  a  peculiar  adaptability  and  almost  without 
set  purpose  or  consciousness  produce  the  method  the 
requirements  of  the  moment  demand,  most  men  must 


48  GETTING  READY 

make-  a  study_  ofjtlie  nrt_nf  revival  maiiageiiient ,  and- 
store  their  minds  with  a  large  variet}^  of  methods.  The 
proper  conditions  for  the  application  of  a  method  and 
the  ends  to  be  reached  by  it  must  be  fully  understood,  or 
it  cannot  be  used  intelligently.  How  to  adapt  it  to 
varying  conditions  wall  be  another  important  point  for 
study.  An  analysis  of  each  method  should  be  made  in 
order  to  get  at  the  general  principle  underlying  it.  It 
will  likel3"  be  founded  upon  some  fadt  in  human  nature, 
and  it  is  well  to  know  just  what  that  fadl  is.  With  a 
clear  comprehension  of  the  general  principles  underlying 
revival  methods,  the  preacher  will  have  little  difficulty  in 
adapting  them  to  the  varying  needs  of  his  meeting.  But 
he  will  none  the  less  have  occasion  to  stud}^  the  develop- 
ment and  application  of  those  principles.  No  detail  in 
the  management  of  revivals  should  be  too  small  to 
attradl  his  attention,  or  wake  his  intelligent  interest.  A 
general  principle  is  valueless  until  it  is  embodied  in 
details,  and  the  omission  of  some  detail  may  take  away 
the  condudtor  by  which  the  power  of  that  general  princi- 
ple was  to  be  applied  to  the  need  of  the  moment. 

This  study  of  methods  has  a  double  effedt.  It  yields 
definite  plans  according  to  which  one  can  work  and  which 
both  diredlly  and  by  the  conscious  application  of  general 
principles  which  underlie  them  suggest  other  and  fresher 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  49 

plans;  it  also  develops  the  executive  talents  of  the 
preacher  and  helps  him  aided  by  the  insight  into  the  sit- 
uation it  brings  to  form  radically  new  methods  by  which 
to  meet  the  demands  of  a  new  situation. 

The  inethods  used  by  successful  revivalists,  whether 
evangelists  or  pastors  should  be  observed  and  studied 
with  care.  There  are  few  ministers  who  have  been  suc- 
cessful who  cannot  furnish  some  new  way  of  working. 
The  records  of  the  work  of  great  evangelists  like  Finney, 
Nettleton,  Earle.  Hammond,  Moody,  or  Jones  will  furn- 
ish valuable  suggestions.  Care  should  be  taken  to  study 
the  underlying  principles  of  the  methods  of  evangelists 
rather  than  to  copy  the  details  of  the  methods  them- 
selves. Many  of  their  ways  of  working  are  not  at  all 
adapted  to  the  use  of  the  regular  pastor.  Their  attitude 
towards  and  relation  to  the  people  are  quite  different 
from  those  of  the  pastor,  and  they  can  apply  methods 
and  risk  results  which  would  be  fraught  with  danger  to 
him.  Indeed  it  is  not  safe  to  copy  any  man's  methods, 
as  they  might  prove  Sauline  armor  which  would  only 
encumber.  Every  book  on  the  subje(fl,  whether  historical 
or  pra(5lical,  on  which  the  preacher  can  lay  his  hand 
should  be  read.  The  literature  on  this  subjedl  is  growing 
rapidly,  and  is  becoming  more  useful  and  pradtical. 
4 


5©  GETTIXG  READY 

Finne3^'s  Autobiograpli}-,  Earle's  "  Bringing  in  Sheaves," 
Hammond's  " Reaper  and  the  Harvest,"  Parker's  "Fire 
and  Hammer,"  Graves'  "  I^ife  and  Sermons,"  and  the 
Memoirs  of  Peter  Cartwright,  are  all  most  inspiring  and 
helpful.  Among  books  of  a  more  pracftical  nature,  Fin- 
ne^^'s  "Revival  Lectures,"  Kirk's  "Lectures  on  Revivals," 
Fish's  "Hand-book  of  Revivals,"  Newell's  "Revivals, 
How  and  Wrhen,"  and  Hervey's  " Manual  of  Revivals," 
are  most  useful.  Most  treatises  on  pastoral  theolog}^ 
contain  excellent  hints.  B}^  personal  obser^^ations  of 
others,  and  b}'  reading  the  best  books  on  the  subjecl  a 
great  deal  of  useful  information  ma}'  be  gathered  that 
will  be  very  helpful  in  the  progress  of  the  meeting. 

It  should  be  remarked  here  that  all  this  accumulation 
of  texts.  Scripture  readings,  illustrations,  and  methods, 
has  little  value  if  it  is  only  a  mechanical  aggregation. 
A  large  blank  book  crowded  with,  the  record  of  these 
gathered  treasures  may  prove  only  an  unhappy  embar- 
rassment of  riches,  a  snare  and  an  encumbrance.  Diges- 
tion and  assimilation  must  follow  aggregation.  This 
gathered  material  must  be  so  thoroughly  appropriated 
that  its  use  becomes  spontaneous,  and  the  individuality 
of  the  speaker  impressed  upon  its  form  and  manner  of 
use.    Week  after  week  the  preacher  must  go  over  his 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI.. 


gathered  treasures  until  he  has  absorbed  them,  and  they 
become  a  part  of  his  mental  furniture.  While  this  is 
eminently  true  of  Scripture  texts  and  readings  and  of 
illustrations,  it  is  even  more  true  of  the  methods  of  work; 
unless  they  are  permeated  with  the  preacher's  individu- 
ality, adapted  to  his  idiosyncrasies  and  limitations,  they 
will  be  but  dead  forms  and  worse  than  useless. 


52 


GETTING  READY 


CHAPTER  III. 

SPIRlTUAIv  PREPARATION. 

^Many  preachers  imagine  themselves  to  be  always 
ready  for  a  revival.  In  their  secret  and  public  devotions 
they  have  joyful  access  to  God;  their  trust  in  him  is  firm 
and  their  peace  of  mind  unruffled;  and  in  view  of  these 
fadls  they  presume  themselves  to  be  in  a  proper  state  of 
grace  for  revival  work^  No  greater  mistake  can  be  made. 
iHs  a  special  work  requiring  special  grace,  and  special 
spiritual  preparation  must  be  _made.  The  spiritual 
strength  of  the  pastor  is  not  sufficient  when  he  assumes 
the  funcflion  of  the  evangelist.  God  does  not  waste  his 
grace  but  grants  it  to  the  faithful  worker  according  to 
the  work  he  assigns  him.  The  sermon  which  the 
preacher  is  moved  to  deliver  for  the  instrudlion  and  edifi- 
cation of  God's  people  will  have  a  gentle  grace,  while 
the  revival  discourse  intended  to  break  the  hearts  and 
move  the  wills  of  sinners  must  have  rending  grace.  To 
wake  the  dead  is  a  greater  task  than  to  nourish  the  liv- 
ing. In  this  aggressive  campaign  there  is  necessary  a 
concentration  of  spiritual  resources,  an  energizing  of  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  53  . 

soul,  an  intensification  and  sublimation  of  the  powers  for 
which  there  would  be  little  use  in  the  regular  work  of  the 
church,  and  which,  indeed,  the  body  could  not  long  sus- 
tain. There  must  be  a  clear-eyed  insight  into  divine 
truth,  an  openness  of  soul  to  divine  influences,  an  utter 
submissiveness  to  divine  diredlion,  found  only  on  the 
Mount  of  Transfiguration,  This  spiritual  preparation  is 
rarely  a  spontaneous  gift  of  God,  but  must  be  sought, 
and  this  element  of  desire  and  choice  only  adds  to  its 
moral  value. 

I.  The  first  step  in  the  spiritual  preparation  of  the 
preacher  will  be  to  reach  a  fixed  determination  to  have  a 
revival.  Whatever  the  power  of  the  will  may  be  over 
others,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  tremendous  influ- 
ence of  a  set  resolve  upon  the  individual  himself.  If  the 
young  minister  in  entering  upon  a  new  field  of  labor  to 
which  he  has  been  called  by  the  conference,  or  by  the 
voice  of  the  congregation  itself,  will  decide  that  he  will 
and  must  have  a  revival,  cost  what  it  may  of  labor  and 
sacrifice,  he  has  already  taken  a  long  step  towards  the 
realization  of  that  divine  ambition.  It  will  influence  his 
whole  attitude  towards  the  people  among  whom  he  comes. 
Round  that  decision  all  his  experiences,  his  rapidly  accu- 
mulating knowledge,  his  judgment  of  the  many  new 
acquaintances  he  is  making,  and  the  relations  he  will 


54  GETTING  READY 

sustain  to  tliem  will  crystallize  and  take  form.  It  will 
decide  what  lie  shall  see  and  what  he  shall  overlook;  it 
will  give  purpose  to  his  every  movement  and  sound  the 
key-note  of  the  opening  pastorate  in  the  ears  of  his  peo- 
ple and  prepare  them  for  the  coming  victory;  it  will 
associate  the  idea  of  revival  with  every  phase  of  the 
church  life  and  so  shape  his  every  plan  and  measure,  and 
charadlerize  all  his  preaching.  While  such  a  resolve 
may  carry  more  hopefulness  and  enthusiasm  with  it  in 
the  first  3'ear  of  a  pastor's  ministry,  when  the  difficulties 
of  the  situation  have  not  grown  all  too  familiar  and  the 
faith  depressed,  it  is  even  more  important  that  it  be  made 
each  succeeding  year.  There  is  in  such  a  detemiination, 
particularly  if  the  underlying  motives  are  what  they 
should  be,  a  moral  value  that  God  cannot  but  honor.  But 
it  must  be  something  more  than  a  desire ;  the  whole  soul 
must  be  concentrated  in  it.  It  must  be  the  edidl  of  the 
kingly  will  which  cannot  be  changed  or  repealed.  It 
must  be  so  fixed  that  obstacles  will  only  be  an  inspira- 
tion, and  hindrances  a  help.  Toil  and  labor,  sacrifice 
and  pain,  will  be  but  its  meat  and  jrink,  adding  power 
and  insuring  vi(5tory. 

Dr.  Newell  relates  the  case  of  two  class-mates  who 
were  called  to  be  pastors.  The  one,  who  was  a  genius, 
proposed  to  preach  great  sermons,  but  lacked  faith  and 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  55 

point,  and  concentration  of  purpose  and  power.  His 
ministry  was  completely  barren.  The  very  first  day  that 
the  other  young  pastor  looked  down  upon  his  congrega- 
tion he  said  to  himself :  ' '  These  are  my  dear  people.  I 
am  responsible  for  their  souls;  and,  God  helping  me, 
they  shall  be  won  to  Christ."  And  so  he  gave  himself  to 
the  work.  He  prepared  his  own  soul.  He  aroused  the 
sympathy  and  co-operation  of  the  church.  He  made 
the  Sabbath-school,  the  meetings  of  the  week,  and  the 
personal  interviews  exceedingly  interesting  and  impress- 
ive. "  He  loved  the  souls  of  his  people.  He  adopted  the 
most  appropriate  revival  methods.  His  whole  soul  was 
fixed  on  one  resolve.  True,  mighty  obstacles  arose. 
True,  there  were  groans  and  tears  and  a  wasting  away 
of  human  flesh.  There  were  fiery  zeal  and  pointed 
words.  There  was  a  purpose  that  would  not  yield;  and 
so,  in  his  utter  helplessness,  he  came  into  wrestling 
contact  with  the  Almighty  Helper,  and  the  blessing 
came." 

2.  The  preacher  must  win  a  realization  of  scripture 
truth  as  adlual  and  concrete.  An  element  of  abstradlion 
mingles  itself  unconsciously  with  all  our  conceptions  of 
divine  truth  and  robs  it  of  its  moving  power.  We 
calmly  reason  and  placidly  preach  about  dodlrines  which 
would  set  us  on  fire  if  we  had  any  realizing  sense  of  their 


56  GETTING  READY 

meaning.  They  need  to  be  taken  out  of  their  abstradt 
and  purely  objedlive  form  and  seen  in  their  concrete  and 
subje(ftive  aspedls.  The  general  truth  must  find  content 
to  the  heart  by  a  particular  application.  When  not 
simply  man  in  general,  but  his  own  wife  or  child, 
brother  or  sister,  father  or  mother,  friend  or  neighbor  or 
even  acquaintance  is  in  danger  of  being  lost  forever,  the 
pained  heart,  the  falling  tear,  the  spontaneous  prayer,  all 
prove  that  at  last  the  soul  has  stood  face  to  face  with  the 
terrible  reality,  from  which  the  veil  of  abstra(5lion  has 
been  drawn.  Abstradlions  or  general  dodlrines  stir  no 
one.  But  when  the  [preacher  realizes  the  meaning  and 
personal  value  of  the  dodlrines  of  salvation,  his  words 
will  impress  these  truths  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
his  hearers  as  concrete  fadls,  and  will  move  them  as 
abstradlions  never  do.  A  profound  realization  of  the 
truths  and  fa(5ts  of  evangelical  religion,  therefore,  is  an 
important  step  in  the  preacher's  preparation  for  a  revival. 

Upon  his  soul  must  lie  a  deep  sense  of  the  sinfulness 
of  sin.  Its  threat  against  the  very  throne  of  God,  and 
the  peace  and  order  of  the  universe,  its  utter  unreason 
and  folly,  its  degrading  and  destrudlive  power  over  the 
soul  in  this  life  and  in  the  life  to  come,  all  must  be 
clearly  apprehended  if  the  preacher  is  to  enter  into  full 
sympathy  with  God's  view  and  treatment  of  it,  and  is  to 


FOR  A  re;vivaiv.  57 

preach  with  a  clear  conscience  the  terrors  of  the  law. 
Unless  the  hideousness  of  sin  and  the  loveliness  of 
righteousness  are  appreciated,  and  the  impassableness  to 
man  of  the  gulf  between  them  comprehended,  the  real 
meaning  of  salvation  cannot  be  grasped.  Man's  sin 
must  be  studied  in  the  light  of  God's  holiness  and  justice 
on  the  one  hand,  and  of  his  pleading  love  on  the  other,  if 
its  true  heinousness  is  to  be  comprehended.  Sin  must 
be  understood,  not  as  a  mere  weakness,  not  as  a  sad  mis- 
take, not  as  a  means  of  culture,  but  as  a  rebellion  against 
God,  whose  guilt  is  infinite,  whose  penalties  are  justly 
everlasting.  Nor  is  this  simply  to  be  predicated  of  sin 
in  general,  but  of  the  sin  of  the  souls  who  are  uncon- 
verted in  the  community,  of  the  very  persons  for  whose 
conversion  the  preacher  is  planning.  Any  weakening 
here,  any  palliation  of  the  sinner's  guilt,  any  toning 
dqwn  of  the  scriptural  conceptions  of  sin,  will  be  disas- 
trous. 

The  preacher  ought  also  to  be  thoroughly  impressed 
with  the  dreadful  consequences  of  sin,  in  this  life  and  in 
the  life  to  come.  There  should  be  no  flinching  here.  If 
the  heart  enters  protest,  it  only  proves  that  it  is  still 
blind  to  the  real  nature  of  sin.  A  study  of  the  merely 
physical  results  of  sin  in  the  world  about  the  preacher 
will  be  impressive,  how  much  more  the  mental  and 


58  GETTING  READY 

moral!  By  analog}-,  these  results  will  give  a  glimpse  of 
the  woe  of  the  finally  impenitent.  As  a  help  to  the 
imagination  the  descriptions  of  hell  given  in  Milton's 
"  Paradise  Lost,"  and  Dante's  "Inferno,"  ma}^  be  read. 
The}'  are,  however,  too  material  and  crass  to  be  followed; 
vastl}"  more  spiritual  and  therefore  more  helpful  is 
Rowel's  "  Letters  from  Hell,"  which  in  spite  of  its  sen- 
sational title  is  a  powerful  and  valuable  work.  The 
praj-erful,  tearful  stud}'  of  the  Scriptures  on  this  topic 
will  be  the  most  useful  and  impressive.  The  vers-  fact 
that  descriptive  passages  are  so  few  has  a  significance 
that  the  preacher  should  b}'  no  means  overlook.  The 
subjed;  must  be  studied  from  the  spiritual  side  made  so 
prominent  in  the  large  number  of  references  which  the 
Scriptures  make  to  the  fate  of  the  impenitent  dead. 
There  should  be  an  absorption,  not  of  the  details  of  the 
biblical  description  of  hell,  but  of  the  spirit  of  sorrow 
and  despair  which  it  breathes  over  the  doom  of  the 
unsaved.  This  realization  of  eternal  punishment  will  be 
a  power  over  the  preacher  himself,  rather  than  a  source 
of  materials  for  the  sermon,  although  even  here  it  will 
be  useful. 

Having  gained  a  realization  of  man's  need  of  salvation 
from  sin  and  its  consequences  here  and  hereafter,  the 
preacher  is  read}'  to  study  the  provision  God  has  made  for 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  59 

this  salvation.  If  his  heart  has  been  sorely  oppressed 
and  burdened  by  his  insight  into  the  true  condition  of 
man,  filled  with  an  almost  ungovernable  longing  to  save 
men  from  their  present  and  eternal  ruin,  he  will  be  pre- 
pared to  appreciate  more  fully  than  he  otherwise  could 
the  fullness  and  freeness  of  the  means  and  power  God 
has  provided  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  desire  of 
his  heart.  An_abiding,  restful  sense  of  the  power  of  God 
to  conyidl  men  of  their  sin,  to  break  down  all  evil  oppo- 
sition to  his  work  from  whatever  source  it  may  come,  is 
particularly  essential.  With  this  realization  of  the  power 
of  God,  the  preacher  will  find  springing  up  in  his  heart 
a  hopefulness,  a  courage,  a  fixed  faith,  that  will  prove  a 
very  panoply  of  strength.  Without  it  he  will  be  at  the 
mercy  of  all  the  little  difficulties  and  petty  hindrances 
which  occur  in  the  course  of  every  revival,  and  lack  that 
confident  aggressiveness  which  is  always  the  promise  of 
vidlory.  The  history  of  God's  dealings  with  his  people 
as  recorded  both  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  particu- 
larly in  the  book  of  A(5ls,  gives  inspiring  instances  of 
the  manifestations  of  divine  power.  Hardly  less  helpful 
will  be  the  reading  of  the  accounts  of  great  revivals,  and 
of  the  work  of  great  evangelists,  in  which  the  arm  of  the 
Ivord  appears  plainly  unbared.  Pondering  over  our  own 
experiences  in  past  revivals  will  often  refresh  the  soul^ 


6o 


GETTING  READY 


and  give  delightful  views  of  the  saving  omnipotence 
of  God.  J 

But  as  the  almightiness  of  God  thus  comes  into  the 
preacher's  mind  as  a  living  facft,  there  will  be  born  in 
him  not  only  a  faith  in  that  power  but  also  a  faith  in  the 
means  ordained  of  God  for  the  application  of  that  power. 
Prayer  fulfilling  the  divine  conditions  will  become  an 
a(5lual  force  to  his  conception,  omnipotent  as  the  God 
who  is  pledged  to  answer  it.  Its  subjedtive  readlions 
will  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  objedlive  results  it  is  able  to 
achieve.  Not  merely  as  a  means  of  working  up  the 
earnestness  of  the  people,  but  as  an  unfailing  method  of 
moving  the  divine  arm  for  the  convi(ftion  of  sinners  and 
their  subsequent  conversion,  for  the  defeat  of  antagonist- 
ical  influences  that  may  make  themselves  felt,  for  the 
enduement  of  divine  power  upon  Christian  workers,  as  a 
way  of  accomplishing  diredtly  any  spiritual  end,  prayer 
will  appear  to  the  soul  as  the  final  resource. 

If  the  Holy  Spirit  is  omnipotent,  then  his  sword,  the 
Word  of  God,  must  have  unconquerable  might.  Faith 
in  the  power  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  opens  to  the  preacher 
resources  of  inestimable  value.  To  look  upon  the  Bible 
as  a  mere  magazine  of  texts  and  impressive  readings, 
which  are  superior  to  the  expression  of  the  same 
thoughts  by  other  writers  chiefly  because  of  their  associa- 


FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


6l 


tions,  and  because  they  are  the  original  source  of  religious 
ideas,  is  to  miss  the  real  hidings  of  their  power.  The 
Holy  Spirit  has  fashioned  his  sword  in  his  infinite  wis- 
dom in  the  very  form  in  which  the  truth  can  do  the  most 
effe(5tive  work  upon  the  hearts  of  men.  Remembering 
the  power  of  God  the  preacher  will  not  only  have  a  gen- 
eral faith  in  the  efficiency  of  the  Bible  to  accomplish 
results,  but  in  particular  texts  and  passages.  He  will  use 
them  with  an  unshaken  confidence  that  they  will  produce 
results.  When  truth  is  needed,  he  will  feel  like  going  to 
the  Scriptures  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  will  use  what 
they  furnish  as  the  all-sufficient  means.  A  well- 
grounded  faith  in  the  Word  of  God  gives  the  Holy  Spirit 
an  opportunity  to  use  his  sword  to  the  best  advantage. 

But  this  faith  in  the  Bible  as  a  channel  of  the  power  of 
God  is  not  at  all  incompatible  with  a  strong  faith  in  the 
power  of  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  A  certain  hope- 
lessness as  to  the  real  value  of  preaching  is  often  a 
grievous  temptation  to  the  preacher.  He  preaches  week 
after  week  without  visible  results  until  almost  uncon- 
sciously he  draws  the  conclusion  that  it  cannot  produce 
results.  This  snare  is  all  the  more  insidious  and  dan- 
gerous that  it  often  affedls  the  mind  without  rising 
definitely  into  consciousness.  Modest,  timid,  self-depre- 
ciative  men  are  peculiarly  liable  to  suffer  from  this 


62 


GETTING  READY 


scepticism  as  to  tlie  value  of  preaching.  But  **  it  pleased 
God  b}'  tlie  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that 
believe. ' '  Paul  sa^-s  in  his  letter  to  Titus  that  God  has 
"  manifested  his  word  through  preaching."  Indeed  it  is 
a  remarkable  faci  that  while  the  perennial  fountain  of 
Christianity"  is  the  Bible,  a  book,  that  it  insists  upon 
preaching  and  teaching,  the  oral  methods  of  communi- 
cation, as  the  proper  means  of  spreading  the  knowledge 
of  the  Gospel,  rather  than  upon  the  written  Word. 
Divine  truth  seems  to  find  men  more  thoroughU'  when 
backed  by  human  convictions,  when  translated  into  their 
own  range  of  experience  not  onh*  hy  speech,  but  also  by 
the  expression  of  the  countenance,  by  the  flashing  or 
tearful  eye,  by  the  emotion  that  finds  innumerable  ways 
of  expressing  itself  in  the  gestures  and  manner  of  the 
speaker.  But  in  realizing  the  power  of  preaching  one 
must  look  at  the  divine  not  the  human  side.  Not  one's 
own  abilities  as  a  speaker  or  orator,  whether  they  be 
great  or  small  in  our  own  e^-es,  but  the  divine  power 
using  the  preaching  as  a  method  of  manifesting  itself, 
must  be  the  basis  of  the  faith  in  its  efficiency.  Modesty 
and  conceit  are  alike  out  of  place  here,  for  self  ought  to 
be  entirely  forgotten.  ^Mien  the  preacher  realizes  the 
divine  mightiness  of  preaching   however    weak  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  63 

preacher,  he  has  won  an  impregnable  position  command- 
ing the  enemy. 

But  a  supreme  faith  in  the  power  of  God  will  not  onl}^ 
make  prayer  and  preaching  seem  mighty  agencies,  but 
will  create  a  confidence  in  revivals  as  God's  favorite 
method  of  manifesting  his  power.  No  one  can  study  the 
history  of  the  ancient  Jewish  church,  and  of  the  begin- 
nings of  the  Christian  church,  as  found  in  the  Scriptures, 
or  the  development  of  that  church  since  the  days  of  the 
apostles  as  recorded  in  that  later  scripture,  the  history 
of  the  Christian  church,  without  feeling  that  teyiyals 
have  been  the  visible  walkings  of  God  through  human 
history.  The  pastor  who  is  preparing  for  a  revival  is 
strong  in  the  fact  that  he  is  pursuing  God's  own  method 
for  the  salvation  of  the  world.  Dr.  Albert  Barnes 
expresses  himself  earnestly  on  this  point:  "What  is 
needed  now  is  the  ministry  of  men  who  have  an  intelli- 
gent faith  in  revivals;  who  have  no  fear  of  the  effedls 
which  truth,  under  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  shall 
have  upon  the  mind;  who  shall  so  far  understand  the 
philosophy  of  revivals  as  to  be  able  to  vindicate  them 
when  assailed,  and  to  show  to  men  of  intelligence  that 
they  are  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  our  nature;  and 
whose  preaching  shall  be  such  as  shall  be  fitted,  under 
the  diredlion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  secure  such  results 


64  GETTING  RE:ADY 

on  the  minds  of  men.  To  revivals  of  religion  our  coun- 
try owes  more  than  to  all  other  causes  put  together;  and 
if  our  institutions  are  preserved  in  safety,  it  must  be  by 
such  extraordinary  manifestations  of  the  presence  and 
the  power  of  God. ' 

A  like  faith  should  create  confidence  in  revival  methods 
without  which  they  are  useless  machinery.  Whatever 
methods  seem  to  the  conscience  and  jvidgment  as  fitted 
to  produce  the  desired  results  and  approved  of  God,  as 
may  seem  assured  by  the  success  he  has  been  pleased  to 
bestow  upon  their  use,  should  be  undoubtingly  accepted 
and  relied  upon  with  implicit  confidence.  But  as  the 
basis  of  faith  is  not  the  power  of  the  methods  them- 
selves, but  the  power  of  God,  there  will  be  no  false 
reliance  upon  any  one  method,  but  an  openness  to  all 
methods  and  means  that  God  seems  willing  to  bless. 
f  The  preacher's  faith  should  also  grasp  as  a  living  real- 
ity the  loving  side  of  the  charadler  of  God.  God's 
patience  and  long  suffering,  his  deep  anxiety  and  passion 
for  the  salvation  of  man,  his  willingness  not  only  to  for- 
give but  even  to  provide  the  way  by  means  of  which 
forgiveness  might  become  possible,  his  acceptance  of  the 
repentant  sinner  not  as  a  subjedl  but  as  a  child,  to  be 
enriched  with  all  the  treasures  of  his  love  and  mercy,  his 
tenderness  and  sympathy,  his  comfort  and  help,  and  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  65 

bliss  and  glorj^  of  eternal  life  should  be  impressed  upon 
his  mind  and  beart  as  fadls  fresh  ever}^  day,  each  hour  a 
rapturous  surprise.^  The  life  of  Christ  and  especially 
his  sufferings  and  death,  the  eighth  chapter  of  Romans, 
and  the  first  epistle  of  John  should  be  studied  over  and 
over  again  until  the  heart  has  fully  absorbed  their  mean- 
ing. The  love  of  God  should  be  studied  in  the  light  of 
the  sinfulness  of  man,  of  his  dire  need,  of  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  all  else  to  help  him,  and  of  the  amazing 
sacrifice  God  has  made  to  save  him.  It  should  become  a 
fixed  idea  in  the  preacher's  mind,  an  abiding  conscious- 
ness in  his  heart.  It  should  permeate  his  whole  soul, 
and  be  the  main-spring  of  all  his  efforts.  It  must  be  the 
sovereign  idea  of  his  mind  to  whose  glorj'  all  other  ideas 
are  tributary. 

Gfasping  the  fullness  of  the  ideas  of  the  power  and  the 
love  of  God,  the  preacher  will  have  little  trouble  in  exer- 
cising faith  in  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  any  and 

all  men  however  vile,  or  rebellious  against  the  truth.  He 

,     .   

will  be  able  to  see  the  possible,  na}'  probable  Christian  in 

the  most  degraded  and  unlikely  sinner.    He  will  find  an 

inspiration  in  seledling  the  most  difficult  case  for  his 

most  earnest  and  hopeful  prayers  and  w^ork.    He  will 

expedt  sinners  to  be  convic5led  mightily,  to  see  them  con- 
5 


66 


GETTING  READY 


verted  thorouglih-  and  glorioush-.  That  their  inner  and 
outer  life  will  be  transformed  and  that  they  will  become 
active  and  effective  workers  for  Christ,  he  will  look  for 
as  a  matter  of  course.  Faith  in  the  power  and  love  of 
God  must  find  this  application  if  it  is  to  have  an}'  mean- 
ing. 

Realizing  that  the  power  and  love  of  God  are  able  to 
change  the  heart  and  life  of  evers*  sinner  in  the  commu- 
nity in  which  the  preacher  is  called  to  labor,  and 
understanding  his  position  as  the  representative  of  God, 
standing  "in  Christ's  stead,"  a  deep  sense  of  responsi- 
bility such  as  rests  on  no  one  else  for  the  unsaved  souls_ 
of  the  community  ought  to,  and  will,  fall  upon  him. 
Upon  him  more  than  upon  any  one  else  depends  whether 
the  conditions  governing  the  application  of  that  power 
and  love  to  the  needs  of  immortal  souls  about  him 
shall  be  realized.  If  he  is  indifferent  or  but  half-hearted, 
if  he  is  negleclful  or  indolent,  the  church  will  be  like 
him,  and  souls  will  enter  eternity  unprepared  to  meet 
their  God. 

Fleming  in  his  "Fulfillment  of  Scripture"  mentions 
the  case  of  a  pastor  by  the  name  of  John  Welch  who 
often  rose  for  prayer  in  the  coldest  winter  nights,  and 
who  being  found  b}'  his  wife  weeping  on  the  ground  and 
wrestling  with  the  Lord  on  account  of  his  people  replied 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  67 

to  her  anxious  inquiries,  "  I  have  the  souls  of  three  thous- 
and to  answer  for,  while  I  know  not  how  it  is  with 
many  of  them." 

The  highest  motives  that  the  human  heart  can  enter- 
tain will  not  only  impel  him  to  accept  this  responsibility 
as  a  duty,  but  also  to  lift  it  out  of  the  realm  of  duty  into 
that  of  love  and  desire.  As  he  broods  over  the  value  of 
imnjortal  souls  to  themselves  and  to  God,  realizes  their 
lost  condition  and  the  complete  provision  for  their  salva- 
tion, a  passion  for  their  salvation  will  be  roused  that 
will  not  be  gainsaid  but  sweeps  the  whole  nature  on  to 
the  work. 

But  this  sense  of  responsibility  must  be  individualized 
if  it  is  to  do  its  full  w^ork  upon  the  mind  and  heart  of 
the  preacher.  His  lists  of  unconverted  Sunday-school 
scholars,  of  unconverted  families  and  persons,  of  back- 
sliders to  be  reclaimed  will  aid  him  in  realizing  in  a 
particular  and  personal  way  for  whose  salvation  he  is 
responsible.  He  should  make  these  lists  his  rosaries, 
praying  over  them  day  by  day,  taking  one  name  after  the 
other,  until  he  has  praj-ed  b}^  name  for  every  unsaved 
person  in  the  community.  Leaving  out  of  consideration 
the  results  of  his  prayer  upon  the  heart  of  God  and  upon 
the  persons  for  whom  he  prays,  the  readlionary  effedls 
upon  himself  will  be  most  blessed  and  happy.  Duty 


68 


GETTING  READY 


will  be  lost  in  love  and  his  passion  for  souls  in  general 
will  find  means  of  expression,  points  of  attachment 
through  which  to  seek  the  attainment  of  its  desire. 

But  this  sense  of  responsibility  and  passion  for  the  sal- 
vation of  individual  souls  will  be  quickened  still  more 
by  personal  intercourse,  social  and  spiritual,  with  the 
persons  who  need  salvation.  Desire  for  their  spiritual 
good  will  promote  kindly  feeling  and  friendship,  and 
these  in  turn  will  strengthen  the  longing  for  their  conver- 
sion. This  personal  attachment  to  the  unsaved  therefore 
should  be  earnestly  cultivated  in  one's  self,  cultivated  all 
the  more  if  there  is  an}i;hing  repellent  in  the  person's 
characler  and  condudl.  There  is  no  place  here  for  the 
manifestation  of  personal  feeling.  The  true  passion  for 
souls  will  override  uncongeniality  of  tastes  or  incompati- 
bility of  dispositions.  Love  must  attach  itself  to  what 
the  person  may  become,  rather  than  to  what  he  now  is. 
It  must,  like  the  love  of  God,  find  in  itself  rather  than 
in  the  objecft  the  grounds  of  its  being.  The  more  repul- 
sive the  charadter  of  the  person,  the  greater,  likely,  is  his 
need  of  the  transforming  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
With  personal  motives  thus  reinforcing  those  which  are 
divine  in  the  heart  of  the  pastor,  there  will  be  a  holy  fire 
in  his  bones  which  will  give  him  peace  only  as  he  is 
engaged  in  labors  looking  to  the  salvation  of  the  lost. 


FOR  A  RKVIVAIv.  69 

3.  His  faith  having  thus  reached  the  substance  of 
thing-s  and  found  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Gospel 
to  be  living  facfts,  the  preacher  has  now  to  fulfill  the  con- 
ditions which  precede  the  exercise  and  co-operation  of 
the  divine  power  and  love  in  himself  first  of  all.  And 
this  he  will  find  no  easy  matter.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher 
once  said,  * '  I  never  had  a  revival  without  a  tussle  with 
myself,  the  church,  and  the  devil."  The  spiritual  strug- 
gle through  which  he  often  has  to  pass  will  be  bitter 
enough.  The  way  of  confession  of  sin,  of  humiliation, 
of  complete  surrender  to  God,  and  of  the  losing  of  self 
in  God,  the  way  of  thorns  in  which  he  insists  that  the 
Christian  workers  of  his  congregation  must  walk  before 
they  can  hope  to  lead  sinners  to  Christ,  he  must  have 
trod  himself  in  its  complete  distress  and  pain.  There 
must  be  a  recognition  of  his  sin,  of  his  neglecit  and  indif- 
ference toward  God  and  his  work,  of  his  selfishness  and 
self-will,  of  his  pride  and  vanity,  of  his  adlual  unworthi- 
ness  to  do  the  work  that  lies  before  him,  and  a  consequent 
confession  to  God  and  deep  humiliation  before  him, 
before  he  has  found  the  attitude  towards  God  that 
will  make  his  co-operation  possible.  There  must  be 
further  a  complete  surrender  of  the  will  to  the  will  of 
God.  A  thorough,  albeit  painful,  self-examination  is 
important,  for  the  self-will  has  a  dangerous  way  of  dis- 


j?0  GETTIXG  READY 

gnising  itself  and  putting  on  garments  of  liglit.  One's 
plans  and  ambitions  for  the  future,  one's  relations  to 
friends  and  acquaintances  and  possibly  fellow-ministers, 
one's  pleasures  and  pursuits,  na}-  even  the  attitude 
of  one's  will,  and  the  motives  for  doing  what  is  recog- 
nized as  God's  will  must  be  diligently  examined  and 
wherever  there  is  an}'  hesitancy  in  accepting  the  vrill  of 
God  or  any  rebellion  against  it,  there  must  be  an  uncon- 
ditional surrender.  The  pro\4dential  ordering  of  our 
lives,  in  our  appointment  to  a  charge  or  change  of  pas- 
torates, in  aflSiclions  sore  and  grievous,  in  trials  and 
difficulties  painful  and  distressing,  in  whatever  form 
the\'  ma3^  have  appeared  contran,'  to  the  natural  desires 
of  the  heart,  must  be  accepted  freelj'  and  with  complete 
resignation.  Resentments  against  our  fellows,  even  if 
they  are  well  founded  and  in  one  sense  of  the  word  just, 
must  be  put  away  from  the  heart  b}-  a  direcl:  acl  of  the 
will.  Pride  and  self-esteem  and  the  approbativeness  that 
desires  the  good  vriW  of  the  people  must  be  thoroughly 
subjugated  to  the  will  of  the  Lord.  Motives  based  upon 
a  desire  to  build  up  one's  own  individual  society',  or  even 
worse,  one's  reputation  as  a  revival  worker,  must  be  cut 
out  of  the  heart  root  and  branch.  In  general  whatever 
in  us  antagonizes  the  will  of  the  Lord  must  be  broken 
down  and  cast  out.    This  is  the  indispensable  condition 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  7I 

of  the  enjoyment  of  the  divine  bles^sing  and  power  in  our 
work.  In  proportion  to  the  incompleteness  of  this  self- 
surrender  will  the  power  of  the  preacher  be  limited  and 
insufficient,  and  the  revival  service  hindered  and  made 
ineflfe(flive. 

But  we  have  been  considering  only  the  negative  side  of 
this  self-surrender,  in  the  putting  away  of  the  antago- 
nism which  may  be  found  to  exist  between  us  and  God. 
The  positive  side  is  the  devotion  to  the  service  of  the 
I^ord  of  all  our  talents,  influence,  powers,  whether 
physical,  mental,  social,  moral,  or  spiritual.  This  con- 
secration of  one's  self  to  divine  uses,  this  setting  apart 
all  one's  force  to  the  work  of  winning  souls  to  Christ, 
this  transferring  to  the  ownership  of  God  our  whole 
self  to  be  used  by  him  as  he  may  think  wise  and  good, 
is  the  most  important  phase  of  self-surrender,  and  cannot 
be  emphasized  too  strongly.  Only  as  the  soul  is  com- 
pletely in  the  hands  of  God  and  pliable  to  his  every 
touch,  can  he  use  it  to  his  greatest  glory  and  to  the 
greatest  good.  But  when  it  is  thus  wholly  his,  there  is 
seemingly  no  limit  to  the  power  he  manifests  through  it. 

But  this  self-surrender  is  not  a  light  task.  The  strug- 
gle is  often  a  protra(5led  one,  lasting  days  and  weeks,  and 
even  months.  It  represents  the  bitterest  distress  of  soul 
to  the  preacher,  a  wading  through  deep  waters  that  often 


72  GETTING  READY 

threaten  to  engulf  him.  It  is  the  wa}^  of  the  cross,  over 
which  the  servant  must  follow  his  Lord.  Cloud  on  cloud 
the  darkness  may  gather,  and  when  it  momentarily 
breaks,  it  is  only  to  deepen  more  terribly  than  ever. 
One  difficult}^  overcome,  he  finds  himself  face  to  face 
with  a  greater.  But  the  complete  vidlory  comes  at 
last,  and  when  it  does  come,  the  power  it  brings  is 
generally  in  proportion  to  the  struggle  through  which 
the  soul  was  obliged  to  pass.  It  brought  out  every 
spiritual  force  of  the  soul,  stirring  it  to  its  utmost 
depths,  and  developing  its  latent  powers  as  no  other 
experience  could  have  done.  So  certain  is  this  pro- 
portion of  power  and  spiritual  results  to  the  severity 
of  the  struggle  that  a  preacher  is  almost  to  be  con- 
gratulated if  this  preparatory  battle  in  his  own  soul 
waxes  hot  and  continues  long.  But  an  unfortunate 
man  is  he  if  he  loses  in  the  strife.  Not  only  does 
he  lose  the  vidlory  in  his  meetings,  but  he  has  lost 
his  peace  of  mind,  his  religious  vitality. 

In  regard  to  this  matter  the  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Newell, 
D.  D.,  writes  of  his  own  experience :  "I  had  seen 
so  many  revivals  .  averted  b}^  the  condition  of  pastors 
that  I  devoted  the  entire  week  of  prayer  to  a  prepa- 
ration of  m}^  own  heart  and  life.  I  believed  that  I 
was  a  Christian,  but  I  wanted  to  see  myself  as  God 


FOR  A  REVIVAI.. 


73 


saw  me.  I  wanted  to  be  thoroughly  humbled  and 
completely  emptied  of  self.  I  wanted  to  press  upon 
the  church  and  the  world  the  overwhelming  motives 
of  God's  eternal  word  with  all  the  magnetism  of  a 
fervid,  confident,  loving,  divine  spirit.  In  pleading  with 
Jehovah  for  others  I  would  obey  his  command,  '  Be 
ye  clean,  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord.'  (Isaiah  52:  ii). 
On  Monday  I  considered  the  infinitely  holy  charadler  of 
God.  By  this  stupendous  theme  my  soul  was  greatly 
awed.  On  Tuesday  I  considered  my  own  particular  sins, 
in  the  presence  of  that  Jehovah  with  whom  even  the  sol- 
emn meeting  may  be  iniquity.  (Isaiah  i :  13).  I  asked 
myself  'What  of  your  pride,  ambition,  self-seeking.'* 
"What  have  you  lacked  in  love,  trust,  spirituality, 
improvement  of  time,  and  toil  for  the  lost.?'  On 
Wednesday  I  considered  God's  kindness  to  me,  my  family, 
and  my  church.  I  was  amazed  at  his  munificence;  I 
was  abased  at  my  own  unthankfulness.  But  he  had 
snatched  away  my  loved  ones.  Yet  he  enabled  me  to 
say,  '  O  God,  thy  will  be  done, — my  Jesus,  as  thou 
wilt.'  On  Thursday  my  questions  were:  'Why  do 
you  want  a  revival  of  religion  ?  Is  it  chiefly  to  build  up 
one  man  or  one  church,  to  make  your  people  more  genial 
and  loving  ?  Or  are  you  seeking  first  of  all  to  honor 
Jesus  in  the  salvation  of  the  perishing  ?    Have  5"ou  been 


74  GETTING  READY 

asking  God  for  things  which  you  do  not  expedl  to  receive 
and  which  you  make  slight  effort  to  secure  ?' 

By  this  time  I  was  ready  to  cry  with  the  Apostle: 
'Oh!  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death?'  (Romans  7:24).  On 
Friday,  I  was  prepared  as  never  before  to  look  to  Jesus. 
Mere  earthly  advantages  seemed  to  me  like  the  idle  wind. 
I  confessed  and  loathed  my  sin.  'I  looked  upon  him 
whom  I  had  pierced,  and  I  mourned  for  him.'  (Zecha- 
riah  12:10).  I  laid  myself  upon  his  altar,  to  do  and  to 
suffer  his  will.  With  great  confidence  I  sought  his 
Spirit.  My  view  was  definite.  My  feeling  was  deep. 
My  soul  was  filled  with  confidence  and  peace.  Kach 
evening  during  the  week  I  had  poured  forth  to  my 
church  the  experience  of  the  day.  When  told  by  one  of 
them  to  look  to  Christ,  the  answer  was:  *  God's  Spirit 
is  teaching  me  what  I  need.  It  is  making  for  me  a 
straight  path  to  my  Savior.'  At  the  close  of  this  Friday 
evening  numbers  took  my  hand  and  with  glowing  faces 
exclaimed:  'Oh,  what  a  meeting  we  have  had!  We 
knew  how  you  would  come  out.'    *   ->5-   *   *  -s^ 

In  this  movement  I  had  the  sympathy  of  the  church. 
The  great  revival  had  commenced." 

Having  learned  to  exercise  such  faith  in  God,  in  his 
|)ower  and  love,  having  made  this  complete  surrender  of 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  75 

self,  and  thorough  consecration  of  his  all  to  God,  the  pas- 
tor has  fulfilled  the  conditions  which  assure  the  baptism  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  the  baptism  of  fire  and  of  power.  God  is 
realized  as  dwelling  within,  as  an  impelling  force,  as  a 
diredling  influence.  There  will  be  a  new  insight  into  the 
truth  of  God  and  into  the  movings  of  the  heart;  a  new 
fruitfulness  of  thought  and  vividness  of  imagination;  a 
new  fertility  in  expedients  and  methods  of  work;  a  new 
emotional  power  and  an  earnestness  that  is  able  to  kindle 
the  earnestness  of  others ;  a  new  courage  that  fears  no  diffi- 
culty and  apprehends  no  defeat;  a  new  magnetism  and 
power  of  will  that  enables  the  preacher  to  control  men  as 
he  is  not  usually  able  to  do.  It  is  the  Holy  Spirit  quick- 
ening his  every  power  and  charging  it  with  an  efiiciency 
that  is  superhuman  and  divine.  He  is  possessed  of  God, 
controlled  and  used  by  him.  The  bliss  of  this  intimate 
communion  with  God,  the  rapture  of  invincible  power, 
and  the  joy  of  certain  results  unite  to  make  this  baptism 
a  most  blessed  experience.  Yet  the  deepening  of  the 
longing  for  the  salvation  of  the  lost  which  it  brings  often 
crowds  the  ecstasy  of  the  experience  out  of  the  con- 
sciousness. 

When  the  preacher  has  won  this  baptism  of  power,  and 
not  until  then,  is  he  ready  to  begin  revival  services. 


76 


GETTING  READY 


I=iPLK.T  II. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

WAKING  THE  ENERGY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  church,  needs  preparation  for  revival  work  no  less 
than  the  minister.  This  is  an  absolutely  essential 
element  in  the  work  to  be  done.  No  matter  what  the 
mental  and  spiritual  fitness  of  the  pastor  may  be,  he 
will  fail  in  his  effort  if  his  church  does  not  co-operate 
with  him  and  is  out  of  sympathy  with  or  indifferent  to 
the  results  he  wishes  to  "accomplish.  An  unrevived 
church  is  a  wall  of  defence  round  the  unsaved,  sheltering 
them  against  the  power  of  the  Spirit  and  of  the  truth  as 
proclaimed  by  the  preacher.  It  were  better  for  the 
worker  that  he  have  no  church  at  all,  that  he  be  left 
unhindered  to  develop  his  methods  and  plans,  relying, 
under  the  guidance  and  help  of  God,  on  his  own  unham- 
pered efforts,  than  that  he  be  handicapped  and  weighted 
down,  checkmated  and  betrayed  at  every  point  by  an 


FOR  A  REVIVAI<.  77 

indifferent  or  unwilling  church.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the 
greatest  importance,  nay  an  absolute  necessity,  that  the 
church  be  prepared  for  the  aggressive  campaign;  that 
in  mind  and  soul  its  members  be  equipped  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  salvation. 

Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey,  formerly  of  Amherst  College, 
says:  "After  a  revival  in  my  old  parish  a  good  deacon 
said  to  me,  'Before  the  revival  I  wondered  why  you 
preached  so  long  and  pointedly  to  the  church.  We 
thought  it  was  cruel  to  lay  the  charge  of  not  having  a 
revival  to  us.  But  I  see  now  how  needful  it  was. '  If  we 
had  the  fa(5ts,  I  believe  it  would  be  found  that  nearly  all 
the  most  powerful  revivals  have  been  preceded  by  earnest 
and  faithful  appeals  to  the  church."  .  — „ 

But  this  preparatory  work  among  Christians  ought  not 
to  be  postponed  until  the  series  of  special  meetings 
begins.  Kconomy  of  strength  and  time,  and  thorough- 
ness of  work,  alike  demand  that  at  least  a  large  share  of 
the  preparation  of  the  church  be  begun  not  only  weeks 
but  even  months  in  advan^e^  Indeed  much  of  the  most 
important  work  can  only  be  done  beforehand.  Time  is 
an  important  fadlor  in  much  of  it,  and  when  the  meetings 
are  in  progress  that  precious  commodity  cannot  be  given 
to  it  freely.  It  will  be  comparatively  easy  during  the 
meetings  of  the  first  week  to  stir  up  the  regular  working 


78  GETTING  re;ady 

members  of  tlie  church  who  are  always  to  be  depended 
upon,  but  the  great  body  of  the  church  which  needs 
reviving  most  will  require  many  days  and  weeks  of  per- 
severing and  patient  labor  before  it  can  be  reached. 
There  is  private  pastoral  work  to  be  done  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  do  after  the  meetings  have  begun,  for  lack  of 
time  and  strength.  There  are  often  social  and  religious 
bonds  that  have  been  fradlured  and  need  to  be  reknit,  all 
of  which  requires  time.  Before  the  autumn  season  has 
been  fairly  ushered  in  the  pastor  should  be  lajdng  his 
plans  and  setting  influences  in  motion  for  the  preparation 
of  his  church  for  a  revival. 

In  many  a  church  it  is  necessary,  before  proceeding  to 
any  diredl  preparation  for  a  revival,  to  do  some  indire(5l 
work.  The  society  has  fallen  into  deep  ruts  in  its  regular 
lines  of  activity,  it  has  lost  its  enterprise  and  freshness 
of  spirit,  its  aggressiveness  and  inventiveness,  its  power 
of  seeing  and  seizing  opportunities,  its  adaptiveness  to 
the  needs  of  the  community  for  whose  spiritual  welfare 
it  is  responsible.  Dry  rot  has  set  in,  and  not  only  the 
spiritual  energies  of  the  society  are  decaying,  but 
the  mental  as  well.  Where  such  is  the  state  of  affairs  the 
pastor  has  the  difiicult  task  of  instilling  new  vitality,  of 
transfusing  from  his  own  spirit  to  that  of  the  church  a  new 
life  and  energy.   This  requires  a  hopeful  spirit  which  dis- 


IfOR  A  RKVIVAI.. 


79 


couragement  and  dismay  cannot  touch,  but  which 
kindles  hope  and  enthusiasm  in  those  with  whom  it 
comes  in  contacft.  Whatever  disheartenment  the  pastor 
may  find  resting  upon  him  should  never  find  the  slightest 
expression  in  either  adls,  words,  or  looks.  He  must  be 
the  very  embodiment  of  courage  and  hopefulness  of  the 
church,  [seeing  the  bright  side  of  everything,  acknowl- 
edging no  impossibilities  and  making  light  of  difficulties 
and  hindrances  that  may  be  met.  he  can  in  any  way 
set  before  his  people  tangible  proofs  of  progress,  such  as 
the  accession  of  valuable  members  who  may  have  been 
standing  off  before,  or  a  marked  enlargement  of  the  reg- 
ular congregation,  or  of  the  Sunday-school,  by  various 
means  some  of  which  may  hereafter  be  suggested,  he 
will  find  that  a  delightful  change  will  come  over  the 
spirit  of  his  people,  i  In  many  cases  the  tide  may  be 
turned  by  the  agitation  of  some  projedl  for  the  material 
advancement  of  the  church.  The  building  of  a  new 
church  edifice,  or  the  enlargement  or  improvement  of  the 
old,  the  purchase  or  building  of  a  parsonage,  the  eredtion 
of  sheds  for  the  shelter  of  horses  and  vehicles  where  such 
are  necessary,  securing  an  organ  or  a  library  for  the 
Sunday-school,  furnishing  the  pews  with  an  adequate 
number  of  hymn-books,  or  any  other  needed  improve- 
ment may  be  made  the  means  of  waking  the  ambition 
and  enterprise  of  the  society. 


8o 


GETTING  READY 


It  will  be  very  helpful  in  man}-  places  to  break  up  the 
dull  routine  and  monotony  in  the  services  by  quietly  and 
gradually  introducing  a  greater  variet\-  in  their  nature 
and  order.  In  congregations  where  there  is  wealth  and 
that  veneered  culture  which  is  more  fastidious  and  crit- 
ical than  the  true,  it  may  be  necessan.--  to  break  down 
false  and  artificial  standards  of  propriety  in  church  ser- 
vice, which  emphasize  the  form  at  the  expense  of  the 
content,  and  hamper  the  manifestation  of  the  religious  - 
life  of  the  people.  That  these  laws  of  propriety  are 
unwritten  makes  them  none  the  less  might}'  for  evil  in 
crippling  the  spontaneity  of  worship.  This  fastidious- 
ness is  a  religious  dyspepsia  that  rejects  with  disdain  the 
wholesome  food  on  which  the  health}^  thrive. 

Sometimes  where  it  can  be  done  without  causing 
ill  feeling  or  strife,  a  reorganization  of  the  church  would 
be  valuable.  AMiere  a  certain  set  of  men,  no  matter  of 
how  high  a  standing  and  charadler  have  by  long  posses- 
sion made  good  their  claim  year  after  year  to  re-election 
to  certain  ofiices  until  the  places  of  power  and  honor 
seem  to  belong  to  them  by  right  and  until  by  age  or  con- 
■firmed  habit,  a  dull  uniformity  and  listlessness  has  come 
over  the  ofScial  representatives  of  the  societ}^  it  may  be 
necessar}'  to  introduce  fresh  elements  into  the  councils  of 
the  church.  Even  a  redistribution  of  the  offices  among  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


8l 


same  individuals  so  that  each  is  made  responsible  for 
a  new  set  of  duties  may  be  helpful.  A  new  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  or  class-leader  or  deacon  or  other 
officer  will  aid  in  breaking  the  spell  of  inadlion  that  is 
upon  the  church.  New  conceptions  and  ideas,  new  plans 
and  methods,  new  knowledge  of  wants  and  state  of 
affairs  in  the  community,  nay  that  element  in  human 
nature  which  has  justified  the  adage,  "A  new  broom 
sweeps  clean,"  all  will  prove  an  inspiration  to  the  pastor 
and  his  church.  Of  course  such  changes  must  be  made 
cautiously  and  discreetly  and  in  a  spirit  of  appreciation 
of  the  work  and  sacrifice  of  the  outgoing  officers.  Per- 
sonal criticism  should  have  no  place  in  the  discussion  of 
the  matter  and  other  motives  than  the  unfitness  of  the 
incumbents  should  be  urged  in  support  of  the  change. 

In  most  churches  such  a  reorganization  is  not  needed 
and  in  some  where  it  might  be  desirable  it  would  be  folly 
to  attempt  it.  However  that  may  be,  the  pastor  should 
seek  to  lead  the  officials  of  his  church  to  a  greater  inter- 
est and  activity  with  reference  to  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  interests  of  the  congregation.  He  should  make 
it  his  business  not  only  to  call  their  attention  to  the  lines 
of  needed  progress,  but  to  inspire  them  and,  if  need  be, 
to  spur  them  on  to  follow  those  lines  to  desired  success. 

6 


82  GETTING  READY 

If  he  is  skillful  enough  to  draw  the  suggestions  out  of 
his  officials  and  so  make  them  responsible  for  the  ideas, 
the  more  power  will  they  have  to  wake  up  the  church  and 
prepare  the  way  for  spiritual  adtivity. 


FOR  A  re;vivai^. 


83 


CHAPTER  II. 

SPIRlTUAIy  PREPARATION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

No  one  seeks  or  strives  after  that  of  which  he  has  no 
sense  of  need.  In  the  diredl  preparation  of  the  church 
for  a  revival  the  awakening  of  the  sense  of  the  need  of 
a  revival  is  particularly  important.  In  the  first  place  the 
individual  Christian  must  be  made  to  realize  that  he  him-  , 
self  needs  a  deeper  work  of  grace  in  his  soul;  that  he  has 
been  indifferent  and  negledtful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
religious  duties,  and  that  he  has  not  that  sense  of  the 
presence  and  favor  of  God  which  brings  on  the  one  hand 
peace  and  joy,  and  on  the  other  power  and  efifedliveness 
in  the  Christian  work ;  that  he  has  taken  from  the  altar 
of  God  his  power,  influence,  time,  means,  and  other  tal- 
ents for  which  he  was  responsible  to  God  their  Giver, 
and  consecrated  them  to  the  power  of  the  world;  that  he 
needs  to  humble  himself  before  God  in  confession  of  sin 
and  unworthiness,  and  reconsecrate  himself  to  the  service 
of  his  divine  Master.  This  personal  sense  of  the  need  of 
a  revival  is  the  most  essential,  as  if  this  is  secured  all 
the  rest  will  follow  almost  necessarily.   The  society  is 


84  GETTING  READY 

but  an  aggregation  of  units,  and  when  the  units  are  hun- 
gering after  the  presence  of  God  the  way  is  well  prepared 
for  a  general  work  of  grace. 

The  church  as  an  organization  must  be  impressed  with 
its  need  of  a  more  powerful  religious  vitality.  It  must 
become  conscious  of  its  general  negledt  of  duty  towards 
God  and  the  unsaved,  of  the  low  standard  of  piety  which 
obtains,  of  its  lack  of  religious  power,  of  its  want  of 
spiritual  influence  over  the  community.  The  lack  of  reg- 
ularity in  attendance  on  the  usual  services  of  the  church, 
the  small  prayer-meetings  and  their  lack  of  interest,  the 
omission  of  family  prayers  in  many  homes,  the  covet- 
ousness  and  worldliness  of  its  members,  the  great  want 
of  Christian  charity  in  its  social  life,  its  indifference  to 
the  fate  of  sinners,  its  formalism  and  purely  mechanical 
effort  in  the  ordinary  lines  of  church  adlivity,  the  back- 
sliding in  heart  of  which  all  have  been  guilty,  should  be 
realized  and  lamented  and  a  desire  awakened  for  a 
change.  Nor  should  it  simply  be  a  passing  depression 
of  spirit,  but  a  deep  and  abiding  realization  of  one's  con- 
dition before  God. 

But  this  sense  of  the  need  of  a  revival  is  only  the 
beginning  of  the  required  spiritual  preparation.  It  is 
but  the  initial  step  which  must  be  followed  by  many 
others.    The  recognition  of  sin  and  neglect  must  be  sue- 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI..  85 

ceeded  by  repentance.  Without  it  the  realization  of  sin 
only  drives  the  soul  further  into  the  darkness  of  a 
backslidden  life.  The  sin  so  recognized  must  be  hated 
and  repudiated.  A  holy  sorrow  for  sin  must  seize  the 
soul  in  much  the  same  way  that  it  did  in  convidlion 
before  the  original  conversion.  But  the  sin  must  be 
given  up.  The  worldliness  and  selfishness  which  have 
grieved  the  Spirit  must  be  put  aside  and  a  strong  effort 
made  to  meet  the  duties  that  have  been  so  long  neg- 
leaed. 

Repentance  will  find  its  expression  in  private  and 
public  confession  and  humiliation.  At  this  stage  of 
affairs  prayer  will  largely  consist  of  a  confession 
of  unworthiness  and  negledl,  and  the  urging  by  the  soul 
of  its  deep  spiritual  needs.  All  self-sufiiciency  and  self- 
righteousness  will  be  removed  from  the  heart,  and  the 
soul  will  appear  before  God  in  the  deepest  humility, 
clothed  in  sack-cloth  and  ashes. 

But  as  the  sins  were  committed  in  the  presence  of  the 
people  there  must  also  be  a  confession  before  them.  Not 
that  there  is  any  need,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  of 
any  detailed  confession,  for  that  were  hardly  edifying.  A 
general  confession  of  unworthiness  and  sinfulness  will  be 
amply  sufficient,  but  this  much  certainly  is  essential.  If 
this  confession  be  made  in  the  presence  of  the  uncon. 


86 


GETTING  RE-\DY 


verted  all  the  better.  Instead  of  leading  them  to  despise 
the  church  it  will  lead  them  to  a  realization  that  the 
standard  hy  which  Christians  judges  themselves  is  high 
and  far  above  them;  moreover,  the  inconsistencies  of 
Christians  will  no  more  ser^-e  them  as  a  hiding  place 
when  the  Spirit  wakes  the  conscience.  The  moral  cour- 
age and  unselfishness  which  a  public  confession  represents 
will  be  appreciated  so  much  that  the  evil  influence  of  the 
previous  inconsistencies  will  be  largeh*  counteracted. 

There  must  be  developed  a  deep  spirit  of  praj-er. 
Desire  must  take  such  hold  upon  God's  people  that  the}' 
will  instinctive!}-  and  spontaneousl}'  fl}-  to  him  to  secure 
that  for  which  the}-  long.  This  must  be  markedly  the 
case  in  behalf  of  the  unsaved.  There  must  be  a  sharing 
of  the  pain  of  Christ  as  he  suffers  for  the  sin  of  the 
world.  Deep  anxiety  and  travail  of  soul  must  seize 
the  church,  an  agony  of  earnestness  that  will  not  cease 
its  importunity,  a  violence  of  spirit  which  taketh  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  by  force.  This  spirit  of  prayer  is  in 
direct  contrast  with  the  quiet  communion  with  God  of 
the  soul  in  its  normal  Christian  life.  It  is  a  struggle,  an 
aggressive  conflict,  in  which  self  is  forgotten  and  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  others  is  the  consuming  desire.  It 
may  be  said  that  there  cannot  be  a  re^4val  with  much 
result  unless  this  burden  of  soul  comes  upon  the  church. 


FOR  A  RKVIVAL.  "  87 

Indeed  the  results  may  often  be  forecast  from  the  intens- 
ity of  the  desire  of  the  church  for  the  salvation  of  the 
people,  and  from  the  degree  of  unanimity  in  this  matter 
among  its  members. 

There  must  be  an  exercise  of  living  faith  in  God,  as  a 
Savior  forgiving  all  sin  and  cleansing  the  soul  from  its 
impurities,  as  a  Helper  in  the  work  of  salvation.  There 
must  be  faith  in  one's  own  behalf  through  which  God 
can  blot  out  the  sins  that  have  been  repented  of  and  con- 
fessed, and  also  in  behalf  of  the  unsaved  that  they  will 
be  called  into  the  kingdom.  This  faith  will  not  be  a 
passing  jo}^  a  momentary  enthusiasm,  but  an  abiding 
realization  of  the  power  and  mercy  of  God,  wavering  not  in 
spite  of  discouragement  or  difficulty.  One  must  learn  to 
distinguish  between  fitful  glimpses,  as  between  clouds, 
of  the  grace  of  God,  and  resting  in  its  constant 
fullness.  The  pastor  is  often  deceived  by  outward 
demonstration  into  feeling  that  his  people  are  fully  pre- 
pared, that  they  have  won  the  victory  of  faith,  when  the 
battle  is  not  even  fully  joined.  The  first  difficulty  that 
is  met  proves  that  it  was  a  mere  ebullition  of  feeling, 
lacking  the  staying  qualities  of  true  faith.  Indeed  there 
may  be  a  number  of  fludluations  of  feeling  before  the 
permanent  power,  the  abiding  sense  of  the  almightiness 
of  God  and  of  his  constant  presence,  is  won. 


88  GETTING  READY 

The  pastor  must  lead  his  people  to  look  for  the  endue- 
ment  of  power  from  above,  even  the  baptism  of  fire  and 
of  the  Spirit.  The  stress  must  be  placed  however,  not  so 
much  on  the  personal  subjedlive  experience  as  upon  the 
meeting  of  the  conditions  upon  which  that  baptism 
depends.  These  are  complete  surrender  of  self,  full  con- 
secration of  all  to  God,  and  an  implicit  obedience  to  the 
guidance  of  the  Spirit.  Pride,  timidity,  self-conscious, 
ness,  all  that  hinders  the  vSpontaneous  impulses  of  the 
soul  from  finding  manifestation  in  determined  efforts  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  must  be  put 
aside  if  the  Spirit  is  to  come  in  its  power.  It  is  useless 
to  pray  for  the  baptism  of  power  until  these  conditions 
are  met.  Here  again  the  pastor  must  guard  himself 
against  being  misled  by  outward  demonstrations  of  joy; 
the  best  test  of  the  descent  of  the  Spirit  will  be  found  not 
in  subjecftive,  emotional  experiences,  although  these  are 
likely  to  occur  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  but  in  the  new 
willingness  to  do,  and  in  the  success  in  aggressive  work 
which  will  be  the  immediate  result  as  in  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost. Of  course  it  will  not  do  to  belittle  or  cast  refledtions 
on  religious  ecstacies  or  raptures  that  may  find  exprcvssion. 
The  pastor  ought  rather  to  sympathize  with  them,  or 
share  in  them ;  but  he  must  after  all  use  them  for  means 
to  higher  ends  and  insist  that  they  are  granted  only  as  a 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  89 

preparation  for  work,  and  that  if  they  are  not  followed  by 
work  they  stamp  themselves  as  false,  "wildfire"  that  is 
born  of  the  flesh  and  not  of  the  Spirit.  The  tendency  to 
have  a  "good  time,"  as  it  is  sometimes  phrased,  is 
purely  selfish  and  lacks  all  the  elements  of  true  spiritual- 
ity. The  result  of  such  an  effort  may  satisfy  the  craving 
for  physical  excitement,  but  is  an  impious  caricature  of 
the  blessing  of  God,  and  will  soon  bring  leanness  of  soul. 
Instead  of  power  the  result  of  such  a  forced  effort  will  be 
a  disastrous  readlion  from  which  it  will  be  difficult  to 
rally.  Feeling  is  a  result,  not  a  cause,  and  any  inversion 
of  this  order  is  foolish  and  calamitous.  Still  worse  is  it 
to  seek  by  noise,  which  is  often  the  result  of  deep  feel- 
ing in  demonstrative  people,  to  create  feeling.  Lung 
capacity  takes  the  place  of  faith  and  physical  force 
becomes  the  measure  of  spiritual  power. 

The  spiritual  preparation  thus  sketchily  indicated  may 
be  made  in  many  ways,  diredl  and  indiredl.  No  mechan- 
ical formulae  can  suffice  for  this  work  and  no  minute 
directions  be  given  that  will  fit  every  case.  In  one  congre- 
gation one  course  is  advisable,  in  another  the  same 
procedure  will  have  no  effe(5l  and  may  even  do  harm; 
indeed  the  plans  that  succeeded  one  year  in  a  congregation 
will  not  be  useful  the  next  so  fully  have  the  conditions 
changed.    Yet  it  is  possible  to  suggest  a  few  general 


90  GETTING  READY 

methods  some  adaptation  of  which,  will  meet  the  case. 
Will  it  be  wholly  superfluous  to  suggest  secret  prayer  as 
one  of  these  methods  ?  The  Holy  Spirit  is  the  great 
Wakener,  and  in  answer  to  the  pastor's  prayer  he  will  do 
his  work  upon  the  church.  He  will  prepare  the  way  of 
the  pastor  for  his  private  and  public  efforts,  and  will 
produce  results  no  human  power  could  in  any  way 
accomplish.  But  this  secret  prayer  must  not  consist  sim- 
ply of  occasional  ejaculations,  but  must  be  prolonged 
wrestling  with  the  Lord  until  the  vidtory  of  faith  is  won, 
and  the  pastor  realizes  in  his  heart  that  as  a  prince  has 
he  had  power  with  God  and  men  and  prevailed.  His  pray- 
ers in  public  and  in  the  homes  of  his  people  may  be  made 
a  mighty  force.  The  power  of  an  earnest  sincere  prayer 
in  its  immediate  adlion  upon  the  people  is  rarely  esti- 
mated at  its  true  value.  A  college  student  full  of 
earnestness  and  spirituality  once  made  the  opening 
prayer  in  a  service  held  in  a  community  which  had  lost 
its  spiritual  vigor.  I^ed  away  by  his  feelings  he  prayed 
for  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  but  in  spite  of  its  inordi- 
nate length  it  was  the  occasion  of  a  great  revival.  Of 
course  public  prayer  must  not  degenerate  into  exhorta- 
tion or  castigation  of  the  people;  that  were  not  only 
offensive  beyond  measure,  but  also  impious  and  insulting 
to  God.    Yet  public  prayer  has  diredt  relation  to  the  lis- 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI,.  91 

tening  people  and  its  influence  for  good  upon  them  not 
only  can,  but  also  ought  legitimately  to  be  considered. 
In  leading  them  in  prayer  the  pastor  should  express  the 
sentiments  which  under  the  circumstances  the  people 
ought  to  feel.  They  should  contain  much  confession  of 
sin  and  negle(5l  and  of  deep  desire  for  the  restoration 
of  the  joys  of  salvation.  Such  a  prayer  made  with  evi- 
dently deep  feeling  and  sincerity  will  often  steal  into 
hearts  that  would  be  closed  to  the  sermon  or  personal 
appeal. 

The  sermon  of  course,  will  be  the  preacher's  great 
opportunity.  The  line  of  thought  will  entirely  depend 
upon  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church.  There  ought 
to  be  little  preaching  at  a  venture.  If  ever  purpose 
should  govern  the  style  of  preaching  and  the  subjecfts 
considered,  this  is  the  time.  In  one  aspedl  or  another  the 
preacher  will  need  to  emphasize  the  reality  of  Christian 
experience,  the  assurance  of  salvation,  Bible  standards 
of  Christian  life,  the  obligations  of  the  redeemed  to  God 
and  men.  The  power  and  conditions  of  prayer,  the 
power  of  God  and  his  willingness  to  use  it  in  behalf  of 
his  people,  the  pre-requisites  for  the  exercise  of  that 
power,  and  kindred  themes  may  be  used  to  kindle  the 
faith  and  enthusiasm  of  the  people.  He  must  insist  upon 
a  separation  from  the  world.    The  line  between  the  saved 


92  GETTING  READY 

and  the  unsaved  must  be  sharply  and  rigorously  drawn 
in  order  that  unconverted  or  backslidden  church  members 
and  the  respedlable  church-going  people  v^^ho  rest  in  their 
self-righteousness  may  be  brought  to  see  their  true  con- 
dition in  the  sight  of  God.  He  must  load  upon  the 
church  the  responsibility  for  the  loss  of  sinners  under  its 
influence.  While  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken  to 
avoid  personalities  in  the  pulpit,  and  never  to  adl  the 
coward  by  saying  publicly  in  a  general  way  what  ought 
to  be  attended  to  in  private,  there  ought  to  be  no  sparing 
of  the  sins  and  negledl  of  which  all  are  guilty.  The 
neglec5led  prayer-meeting,  the  tedious  meeting  for  testi- 
mony, the  family  altar  that  lies  in  ruins,  the  secret  closet 
that  remains  unvisited,  all  will  furnish  opportunities  for 
sweet,  kindly,  but  none  the  less  fearless  and  plain  expo- 
sitions of  the  true  condition  of  the  church  and  its 
members. 

With  regard  to  the  danger  of  offending  the  church  by 
faithful  reproof.  Dr.  Cuyler  gives  the  following  expe- 
rience: "While  going  through  my  congregation  one 
afternoon  on  a  pastoral  visitation,  I  found  three  persons 
under  deep  convidlion  of  sin.  I  at  once  summoned  my 
church  officers  together  and  recommended  a  daily  prayer 
meeting  for  the  out-pouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  When 
the  first  inquiry-meeting  was  held,  the  officers  took  their 


FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


93 


hats  and  went  lionie.  I  wrote  each  one  of  them  a  sharp 
note.  One  or  two  were  affronted,  but  the  irritation 
proved  a  means  of  grace.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  get  a 
sleepy  backslider  thoroughly  angry;  when  a  wound 
smarts  it  is  commonly  healing.  Mr.  Moody  wittily  says: 
*  When  God  awakens  a  sleeping  soul,  it  generally  wakes 
up  cross.'  lyct  us  never  be  alarmed  when  the  truth, 
working  in  a  conscience,  produces  sharp  words.  The  fire 
is  getting  into  the  bones.  In  a  few  days  I  found  all  my 
staff  of  elders  and  deacons  well  warmed  to  the  work.  A 
blessed  revival  followed. ' ' 

The  great  danger  of  such  preaching  is  that  it  will 
degenerate  into  mere  denunciation  which  will  do  only 
harm,  generating  an  antagonistic  spirit  and  a  resentment 
little  fitted  to  prepare  the  soul  for  a  levival.  The 
preacher  must  guard  this  point  with  the  utmost  care,  and 
come  into  the  pulpit  for  such  work  only  after  having  the 
most  thorough  spiritual  preparation  and  a  baptism  of 
the  love  and  patience  of  God.  Dr.  Newell  writes  of  a  pas- 
tor who  was  especially  hard  and  faithful.  One  evening, 
as  he  was  leaving  his  meeting,  a  good  sister  said  to  him, 
*I  am  tired  of  being  scolded.'  He  was  startled.  He 
carried  this  reproof  to  the  cross.  His  heart  was  moved. 
He  said,  *  I  try  to  be  faithful,  but  how  rarely  do  I  strive 
to  melt  them  with  my  own  broken  heart  and  with  the 
precious  love  of  Jesus. ' ' ' 


94  GETTIXG  REA^DY 

A  j  oimg  clergj'man  whom  I  once  knew  wlio  was 
ver\'  anxious  to  succeed  on  the  charge  to  which  he 
had  been  sent  threw  the  whole  of  his  tremendous 
energy"  into  a  revival  serv'ice,  but  with  no  seeming 
success.  He  preached  with  increasing  severity,  loading 
upon  the  church  the  responsibility  for  the  failure,  but 
onlj'  drove  his  people  away  from  himself.  The  meet- 
ing promised  to  result  in  positive  harm  to  the  church 
and  his  mental  distress  was  intense;  it  seemed,  how- 
ever, only  to  embitter  him  and  he  became  more  de- 
nunciatorj'.  At  last  the  crisis  came  and  in  the  midst 
of  an  evening  ser^^ce  he  was  overcome  by  his  mental  and 
spiritual  distress,  and  was  obliged  to  dismiss  the  congre- 
gation. He  knelt  in  prayer  among  a  few  of  his  faithful 
members  who  remained  with  him  in  their  anxiet}^  and 
after  hours  of  struggle  he  won  the  vidlory  and  was  at 
peace.  The  meetings  continued,  but  the  denunciations 
ceased.  The  church  soon  rallied  about  him,  sinners 
began  to  be  converted,  and  a  precious  revival  swept 
scores  into  the  kingdom.  When  the  preacher  is  inclined 
to  be  harsh  and  severe,  he  may  be  sure  that  like  this 
3'oung  minister  the  trouble  is  with  himself  and  not  with 
the  congregation. 

Indeed  direcl  references  to  the  faults  and  negledl  of  the 
church  and  its  members  will  not  always  be  necessary  and 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  95 

before  making  them  the  preacher  should  alwa3's  be 
certain  in  his  own  mind  that  they  are  called  for.  If  the 
preaching  on  the  various  themes  connecled  with 
the  Christian  life  is  clear  and  definite,  the  church  may 
usually  be  trusted  under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  to 
make  the  proper  application  to  its  own  needs. 

But  the  pastor  has  even  better  opportunities  than  the 
preacher  for  impressing  his  people  with  their  need  of  a 
revival  and  for  preparing  them  for  its  coming.  In  his 
pastoral  relation  there  is  a  freedom  that  he  lacks  in  the 
pulpit.  The  unconverted  are  not  present  to  misinterpret 
and  pervert  the  plain  words  of  the  speaker.  There  is  an 
opportunity  for  detailed  illustration,  for  personal  applica- 
tion, that  would  be  utterly  out  of  place  in  the  pulpit. 
The  pastor  should  talk  up  the  need  of  a  revival  wherever 
he  goes  among  Christians,  refer  to  it  in  season  and  out 
of  season  months  before  he  expedts  to  begin,  until  the 
people  by  mere  dint  of  iteration  (and  many  persons  can 
be  impressed  in  no  other  way)  have  absorbed  the  idea.  In 
the  homes,  on  the  streets,  in  the  workshops,  in  private 
conversations  on  the  work  of  the  church,  in  the  ofiicial 
meetings,  in  the  prayer-meeting,  in  the  class-meeting, 
everywhere  the  need  of  a  revival  should  be  alluded  to 
and  the  desire  for  it  kindled.  But  this  iteration  must  be 
a  natural  expression  of  the  pastor's  own  desire  and  pur- 


96  ge:tting  ready 

pose,  not  a  mere  mechanical  repetition.  Let  the  people 
once  discover  that  it  is  not  spontaneous  and  impulsive 
and  its  power  is  shorn,  indeed  it  becomes  a  power  for  evil 
disgusting  and  repelling  those  whom  it  seeks  to  gain. 

In  seeking  the  spiritual  preparation  of  his  people  the 
pastor  must  not  assume  that  the  pillars  of  the  church  will 
not  need  particular  attention  at  his  hands.  The  fadl  is 
they  often  need  it  most.  They  are  peculiarly  liable  to 
self-complacency  and  self-righteousness,  those  heart  sins 
so  fatal  to  all  revival  effort.  They  finst  of  all  may 
demand  pastoral  visitation,  religious  conversation  of  a 
personal  and  searching  character,  and  earnest  prayers  for 
them  and  theirs,  in  their  homes.  If  they  are  humble  and 
kindle  quickly,  so  much  the  better  for  the  pastor  as  they 
immediately  become  helpers  and  the  desired  movement 
has  already  begun.  Unless  they  are  early  won  for  an 
aggressive  movement  and  a  deeper  spiritual  life  in  the 
church  they  will  be  in  the  way  of  others  and  prove  a 
great  hindrance.  Such  persons  often  become  an  antago- 
nistic element  in  a  revival,  their  pride  leading  them  to 
oppose  what  they  had  no  hand  in  setting  in  motion.  In 
any  event  they  will  be  harder  to  reach  afterwards.  Those 
who  have  become  indifferent  to  the  church  and  its  inter- 
ests and  negle(5lful  of  their  religious  duties  will  need 
more  prolonged  attention  and  persevering  effort.  Con- 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI..  97 

vensation  with  these  may  range  from  the  mere  urging 
them  to  attend  the  social  and  other  services  of  the  church 
to  references  to  the  personal  religious  condition,  accord- 
ing as  it  may  be  wise  to  do  one  or  the  other.  Sometimes 
when  diredl  means  fail  it  may  be  well  to  send  some  one 
of  the  church  who  has  influence  over  the  person  under 
treatment;  and  often  it  is  well  to  send  the  backslider  after 
some  one  else  who  needs  attention,  that  the  effort  to  help 
others  may  reveal  to  him  his  own  helplessness.  This  is 
one  of  Moody's  favorite  methods.  Some  will  require  a  lit- 
tle diredlion  in  work  to  be  done  privately,  others  will  need 
to  be  inspired  to  public  efforts  in  prayer  or  testimony,  in 
some  families  the  altar  of  prayer  must  be  rebuilt.  There 
may  be  those  who  have  lost  their  sense  of  acceptance 
with  God  and  crave  enlightenment  and  comfort.  They 
may  even  claim  that  they  are  no  longer  Christians, 
but  in  many  cases  they  are  judging  only  by  their  feelings 
and  the  pastor  will  need  to  exercise  care  in  accepting 
their  view  of  the  case.  He  should  be  slow  to  grant  that 
they  have  utterly  backslidden,  but  insist  that  they  take 
up  their  long  negledled  duties  and  by  a  reconsecration 
win  back  the  lost  peace  of  soul.  There  is  great  danger 
in  belittling  conversion  and  wrecking  the  faith  of  the 

communit}^  in  its  reality  and  value  when  church  mem- 
7 


98  GETTING  READY 

bers  must  experience  it  every  year  or  two.  The  truth  is 
that  a  majority  of  those  who  claim  that  they  have  lost 
their  religious  life  are  simply  discoiiraged  and  misled  by 
false  conceptions  of  the  basis  of  Christian  life. 

With  those  whose  w^hole  life  and  conversation  prove 
that  they  have  really  forsaken  the  Lord  a  different  course 
must  be  pursued.  Their  church  membership  must  be 
recognized  in  talking  with  them  only  as  an  added  con- 
demnation, and  as  rendering  them  more  accountable  for 
their  sin.  In  general  the}^  will  need  the  same  treatment 
as  other  unsaved  persons.  An  effort  should  be  made  to 
interest  them  in  the  church  and  its  work  and  to  secure  a 
personal  influence  over  them.  Direcfl  personal  appeals 
should  rarely  be  made  to  them  until  they  have  been 
brought  into  a  condition  to  profit  by  them.  Otherwise 
they  will  be  repelled  and  hardened  before  the  reaping 
time  of  the  meeting  has  come. 

New  life  needs  to  be  put  into  the  social  services  of  the 
church.  New  methods  need  to  be  used  in  adding  inter- 
est. Perhaps  I  can  do  no  better  on  this  point  than  to 
quote  the  excellent  description  and  suggestions  of  the 
Rev.  W.  P.  Doe,  as  found  in  his  valuable  compilation, 
"Revivals, — How  to  Promote  Them."  "The  prayer 
meeting  is  in  the  ruts;  no  unusual  thing;  smitten  with 
dullness;  prayers  long  and  wandering  and  prosy;  singing 


FOR  A  REVIVAI,.  99 

nasal  and  twangy;  same  routine,  praj-er,  singing,  Script- 
ure, a  whole  chapter;  exhortation  by  leader;  remarks, 
prayers  and  pauses  by  brethren;  benedidlion;  dispersion. 
The  young  are  not  there;  the  sounds  are  too  doleful. 
The  church  are  not  there  for  the  same  reason. 

How  shall  it  be  raised  to  newness  of  life  and  freshness 
of  power?  Try  experiments;  have  variety,  spring, 
sparkle.  Mix  things;  now  a  praise-meeting,  now  a 
promise-meeting,  now  both  in  one.  Have  topics,  discuss 
them;  a  Bible  service  in  which  all  can  join;  bring  along 
6ome  passage  on  which  your  own  soul  has  feasted,  talk 
about  it;  come  full  of  enthusiasm  for  whatever  means  is 
to  be  tried,  never  criticising  measures,  and  you  will  find 
the  conference  room  a  very  Bethel. ' ' 

Valuable  hints  may  be  gained  from  the  late  Rev.  ly.  O. 
Thompson's  book  on  "  The  Prayer-Meeting"  and  also  in 
Rev.  Clark's  "  Young  People's  Prayer- Meeting." 

The  pastor  may  easily  be  able  to  judge  whether  his 
efforts  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  revival  are  successful. 
The  increasing  number  of  his  hearers  and  the  interest 
they  manifest  in  his  words,  the  increasing  size  and  spir- 
ituality of  his  prayer-meetings  and  the  larger  number  of 
those  who  participate,  the  more  and  more  frequently 
expressed  sense  of  the  need  of  and  desire  for  a  revival  in 
public  and  private,  the  reconsecration  of  backsliders,  the 


lOO 


GETTING  READY 


confessions  of  sin  and  lamentations  over  negledl  of  duty, 
the  interest  manifested  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
community  will  be  some  of  the  tokens  of  the  rising  spir- 
itual tide.  When  conversions  begin  to  occur,  and  they 
ought  to  be  expedled,  he  may  be  sure  that  the  divine 
Spell  is  working  and  that  all  things  are  nearly  if  not 
altogether  ready. 

But  the  church  should  not  only  be  impressed  with  its 
individual  and  collecftive  need  of  a  time  of  refreshing, 
but  also  with  the  terrible  need  of  the  unsaved  about  it. 
To  this  end  it  may  be  necessary  to  preach  a  series  of 
sermons  on  the  present  and  future  condition  of  the  uncon- 
verted with  a  special  view  to  the  enlightenment  of 
Christian  people.  During  a  time  of  great  spiritual 
drought  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  Dr.  Wayland,  the  President 
of  Brown  University,  preached  a  series  of  sermons  on  the 
doom  of  the  impenitent.  There  was  no  little  protCvSt 
against  the  forbidding  theme  so  persistently  brought  to 
the  attention  of  the  people,  but  Dr.  Wayland  continued 
and  in  a  short  time  a  great  revival  of  religion  broke  out. 
Earnest  private  talk  along  these  lines  will  often  be  more 
useful  than  preaching  which  the  hearer  is  too  apt  to  con- 
sider professional  and  perfuncftory.  It  is  often  necessary 
to  remove  from  the  minds  of  even  good  earnest  Christians 
the  very  comfortable  but  fatal  idea  that  mere  morality 


FOR  A  REVIVAIy.  lOI 

and  respe(5lability  on  the  one  hand  and  the  love  and 
mercy  of  God  on  the  other  will  save  souls,  even  when 
they  die  in  an  unconverted  state.  The  church  must  be 
thoroughly  impressed  with  the  inexorableness  of  the 
words  of  Jesus,  '*He  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 
already,"  and  that  without  conversion  there  can  be  no 
salvation  for  any  responsible  soul.  When  sin  and  its 
consequences  here  and  hereafter  are  clearly  realized  as 
facets  of  awful  significance,  and  then  only,  will  Christians 
comprehend  the  need  of  sinners. 

Few  persons  realize  how  many  of  their  friends  and 
acquaintances  are  unsaved.  They  do  not  apply  the 
religious  do(5lrines  they  accept  in  a  concrete  way  to  the 
case  of  their  friends,  but  think  of  them  only  as  abstradl 
theological  do(flrines  in  a  hazy,  misty,  and  unreal  way. 
They  must  be  helped,  therefore,  by  the  pastor  to  make 
the  application  of  the  truth  as  adtual  and  living  to  their 
acquaintances,  that  they  may  know  the  number  and 
personelle  of  the  unsaved.  His  investigations  along  this 
line  will  now  prove  of  great  value.  He  can  refer  to 
his  canvass  book  or  to  his  lists  for  such  aggregate  figures 
with  reference  to  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  commu- 
nity as  will  in  most  cases  not  only  impress  but  even 
startle  Christians  who  have  been  previously  indifferent. 
The  number  of  unconverted  persons  in  the  Sunday-school 


I02 


GETTING  READY 


and  in  the  regular  congregation  may  be  more  or  less 
accurately  determined  and  referred  to.  He  can  canvass 
the  families  of  the  church  and  use  the  number  of  unsaved 
husbands,  wives,  parents,  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
the  aggregate  with  telling  effedl.  These  and  other  like 
fadls  can  be  reiterated  in  public  and  in  private  in  various 
forms  and  connedlions  until  they  are  firmly  fixed  in  the 
minds  of  Christians  and  wake  a  deep  passion  for  the 
salvation  of  the  people.  It  has  been  found  useful  to  ask 
each  member  to  make  out  a  list  of  the  unsaved  persons 
among  his  friends  and  acquaintances  and  to  hand  it  to 
the  pastor  for  reference  and  prayer.  The  effedl  upon  the 
Christian  in  impressing  him  with  the  great  number  of 
the  unconverted  in  the  circle  of  his  friends  and 
acquaintances  is  the  chief  value  of  these  lists  as  the 
pastor  has  in  other  ways  made  his  investigations, 
but  they  often  give  him  ideas  of  social  and  other 
relations  that  will  be  very  useful.  It  will  often  be 
necessary  for  the  pastor  to  call  the  attention  of  Chris- 
tians to  the  unsaved  in  their  own  families  and  to  ask  their 
cooperation  in  saving  them.  Some  need  to  be  reminded 
of  the  dangerous  condition  of  their  neighbors  and 
acquaintances.  It  may  even  be  necessary  to  impress 
them  that  these  persons  can  be  saved  and  wake  their 
hopefulness,  for  some  people  accustom  themselves  to  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  103 

fadt  that  certain  of  their  friends  are  unconverted  and 
seem  to  take  for  granted  that  they  will  always  remain  so. 
Out  of  this  delusion  they  must  be  awakened. 

When  Christian  people  have  realized  the  eternal  loss  of 
a  sinner  so  deeply  that  they  begin  spontaneously  to  pray 
for  his  salvation,  the  revival  may  be  said  to  have  begun. 
If  the  church  has  truly  made  the  proper  preparation  for 
the  coming  of  the  Lord  by  confession,  humiliation, 
prayer  and  faith,  the  battle  may  be  said  to  be  won.  The 
iiardest  work  has  been  done,  that  which  requires  the  most 
skill,  perseverance,  patience,  and  piety.  But  when  it  is 
done  and  thoroughly  done,  the  cloud  no  larger  than  a 
man's  hand  is  already  above  the  horizon.  The  times  of 
refreshing  are  at  hand.  There  may  yet  be  hard  work 
to  be  done,  but  it  is  joyous  and  rich  with  reward. 


I04 


GETTING  READY 


CHAPTER  III. 

ORGANIZING  THE  CHURCH. 

It  is  not  SO  much  a  new  organization  that  is  needed  as 
an  application  of  that  which  already  exists  to  the  pur- 
pose of  work,  thus  giving  the  merely  formal  organization 
looking  to  existence  a  content  and  reality  it  lacked 
before.  It  is  not  the  multiplication  of  church  machinery 
so  much  as  the  getting  what  already  exists  into  working 
order  and  making  the  proper  conne(5lions.  Organizing 
the  church  does  not  mean  multiplying  societies  within 
the  church  with  a  large  board  of  officials  for  each,  but 
finding  work  for  everybody  that  he  can  do  and  getting 
him  to  do  it. 

I.  The  pastor  must  win  for  himself  the  power  as  well 
as  the  place  of  leadership.  Some  pastors  are  mere 
puppets  in  the  hands  of  their  leading  members  whose 
wills  they  consciously  or  unconsciously  obey.  Many 
more  are  untrammeled  in  their  own  adls  by  outside 
pressure  or  didlation,  but  are  not  ready  to  assume  any 
control  or  leadership  over  the  individual  members  of 
their  congregations.    Others  again  are  free  enough  to 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  105 

assert  their  authority  in  the  general  management  of  the 
church  but  have  nevertheless  failed  to  win  the  loyal 
obedience  of  the  individual  members.  It  is  exceedingly 
important  that  the  pastor  get  control  of  the  working 
forces  of  the  church  so  as  to  use  them  as  he  under  the 
guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  may  think  wise  and  proper. 
Nor  should  any  considerations  of  a  modest  nature  hinder 
him  from  seeking  to  attain  this  power.  Modesty  is  a 
pleasant  trait,  but  it  is  no  more  a  virtue  when  it  checks 
the  adlivity  of  a  pastor  who  is  looking  forward  to  a 
revival  meeting  than  in  a  general  who  is  made  respon- 
sible for  the  condudl  of  a  campaign.  It  is  his  duty  to 
lead  and  to  diredl  his  people,  and  in  so  far  as  he  allows 
a  native  timidity  to  hamper  him  in  this  phase  of  his 
work  he  is  weak  and  recreant  to  the  trust  placed  upon 
him.  It  goes  without  saying  that  I  do  not  mean  any 
didtatorial,  magisterial  authority  such  as  obtains  in 
military  life.  The  pastor  must  so  win  the  respedl  and 
confidence  of  his  people  by  his  kindness,  self-forgetfulness 
and  piety,  as  well  as  by  his  knowledge  and  discretion, 
that  they  will  cheerfully  accept  his  suggestions  as  to  the 
work  they  are  colledlively  and  individually  to  do.  A 
loyal  people  will  obey  a  hint  of  their  pastor  as  faithfully 
as  will  an  army  the  stern  command  of  its  general. 
Where  such  obedience  is  lacking  it  is  usually  the  fault  of 


io6 


GE^TTING  READY 


the  minister.  Either  in  chara(fter  or  judgment  there  is  a 
conspicuous  lack  which  forbids  respedl  and  confidence,  or 
he  is  unwilling  to  assume  the  leadership  his  position 
implies.  The  people  want  to  be  led;  they  gladly  follow  a 
real  leader.  It  is  true  they  do  not  want  to  be  "bossed," 
and  resent  it  when  it  is  attempted,  but  that  is  not  leader- 
ship. Curt  commands  and  scolding  may  do  in  an  army 
or  workshops,  and  even  there  they  are  an  element  of 
weakness,  but  where  authority  rests  on  purely  moral 
considerations  as  in  a  church,  they  only  undermine 
discipline  and  prevent  obedience.  The  gentle  authority 
of  love  will  meet  the  obedience  that  is  most  useful  and 
leave  only  blessings  in  its  path.  People  can  be  trained 
to  obey  simply  by  giving  them  something  to  do  and 
making  frequent  requests  of  a  reasonable  charadter  and 
by  the  gentle  and  kindly,  but  firm  and  unwavering,  nay 
indomitable  and  unconquerable,  persistence  of  purpose 
to  which  the  people  will  and  must  yield.  If  revival 
work  is  to  be  thoroughly  successful,  this  element  o^ 
leadership  must  be  cultivated  by  the  pastor  until  his 
workers  collectively  and  individually  are  willing  to  do  in 
spiritual  work  what  he  suggests  by  the  methods  he 
decides  it  wise  to  use.  Otherwise  he  will  always  have  a 
haunting  fear  crippling  his  efforts  that  his  people  will 
not  accept  his  plans  of  work,  and  sometimes  they  will 


FOR  A  REVIVAI,.  IO7 

refuse  to  a<ft  on  his  suggestions,  humiliating  the  pastor 
publicly,  and  stopping  the  work  of  grace  that  may  be  in 
progress.  A  timid,  fearful  leader  rarely  wins  a  vidlory 
and  a  mutinous,  rebellious  army  certainly  can  expedl 
none.  An  evangelist  of  some  note  was  once  holding  a 
meeting  in  a  city  church.  One  evening  during  the  first 
week,  before  he  had  fully  won  his  place  as  the  leader  of 
the  people,  he  suddenly  asked  the  Christians  about  the 
altar  to  follow  him  down  the  central  aisle  to  the  rear  of 
the  church  in  order  that  prayer  might  be  had  among  the 
unsaved  who  were  chiefly  in  that  part  of  the  house,  a 
method  he  had  effedlively  used  elsewhere;  but  the  Chris- 
tian people  who  were  really  very  anxious  that  the  work 
should  be  a  success  were  repelled  by  this  method  and 
refused  to  follow.  This  defeat  had  an  exceedingly  bad 
efFedl  on  the  meeting  which  during  the  subsequent  work 
was  never  wholly  overcome.  A  young  preacher  was  led 
by  his  deep  sense  of  the  meaning  and  horror  of  sin  to 
preach  a  series  of  sermons  on  the  subjedl,  fearlessly 
applying  the  Word  of  God,  laying  judgment  to  the  line 
and  righteousness  to  the  plummet,  and  sweeping  away 
the  refuges  of  lies.  Deep  convidlion  seized  upon  the 
unsaved  and  the  young  pastor  looked  for  a  great  vi($lory; 
but  just  as  he  was  expecfling  a  break  in  the  ranks  of  the 
unconverted,  his  people  crowded  about  him  denouncing 


loS  GETTIXG  READY 

his  plain  preaching  and  refusing  to  stand  by  him. 
Instead  of  the  anticipated  victor}-  the  meeting  was  an 
unfortunate  defeat.  In  both  instances  if  the  proper  rela- 
tion of  leadership  had  been  previously  established  these 
unfortunate  results  would  not  have  ensued. 

2.  There  must  be  an  organization  of  the  church  for 
aggressive  work.  The  ideal  should  be:  everybody  at 
work  on  that  which  he  is  best  qualified  to  do.  It  is  the 
pastor's  business  to  point  out  and  di^-ide  the  work  in 
such  a  way  as  to  realize  this  ideal.  Only  as  he  oversees 
and  directs  will  there  be  unity  and  thoroughness  in  the 
efforts  of  the  church.  Of  course  this  is  no  light  task 
amid  the  multiplicity  of  other  duties,  but  it  should  be 
none  the  less  bravely  and  perseveringly  attempted. 
Some  men  organize  from  mere  instinct  for  organization, 
but  the  great  majority  who  have  not  this  genius  must  set 
themselves  to  learning  how  to  organize,  and  compel 
themselves  to  do  this  important  work,  talent  or  no  talent. 

As  has  already  been  suggested  it  is  not  so  much  a 
reorganization  of  the  church  that  is  needed,  as  a  ^-italiza- 
tion  of  that  which  already  exists.  The  nominal  leaders 
of  the  church  must  become  real  leaders.  The  class- 
leaders  or  elders  must  be  made  to  feel  the  responsibilities 
of  their  positions  and  impressed  with  their  dutj-  to  lead 
out  in  the  work  of  the  church.    The  Sundaj'-school 


FOR  A  RBVIVAI,.  109 

superintendent  should  be  newly  impressed  with  the  spir- 
itual ends  to  be  reached  by  the  school  under  his  charge, 
and,  if  possible,  interested  in  the  pastor's  plans  for 
accomplishing  them.  A  special  meeting  of  the  Sunday- 
school  teachers  may  be  called  for  the  purpose  of 
impressing  them  with  the  need  of  their  cooperation. 
Opportunities  should  also  be  sought  in  private  to  deepen 
this  impression.  In  this  way  the  whole  organization 
must  be  quickened  into  new  life,  the  conne(5lions  of  the 
church  machinery  must  be  fully  restored,  until  the  whole 
works  together  smoothly  and  powerfully.  There  is 
nothing  finer  in  the  world  than  a  church  in  which  every- 
body is  at  work  doing  that  for  which  he  is  best  fitted  and 
cooperating  with  others  in  carrying  out  a  well-matured 
plan  for  bringing  the  unsaved  to  Christ.  The  angels  in 
heaven  must  rejoice  over  such  a  mighty  engine  for  the 
glory  of  God. 

f  It  may  be  well  to  appoint  committees  for  visiting  the 
^komes  of  the  unsaved.  These  should  be  sufiiciently/J^^^ 
large  to  avoid  burdening  any  one  person  unduly,  and  '  f  V"' 
distributed  geographically  oyer  the  territory  occupied  by 
the  society  so  as  to  minimize  the  needed  time  and  effort. 
The  pastor's  lists  of  the  unconverted  persons  of  the  com- 
munity should  then  be  divided  among  these  committees 
geographically  in  such  a  way  that  every  unsaved  person 


no 


GHTTIXG  READY 


lias  a  Christian  worker  responsible  for  him.  In  some 
individual  cases  for  social  or  other  reasons  it  may  be  wise 
to  ignore  the  geographical  idea  and  put  the  responsibility 
on  some  one  peculiarly  fitted  to  meet  -it  successfully.  It 
will  be  wise  to  have  several  individuals  assist  in  caring 
for  each  unsaved  person,  as  the  influence  exerted 
increases  in  a  geometrical  ratio  with  each  additional 
wwker.  These  committees  should  have  a  clear  idea  of 
the  subordinate  as  well  as  the  final  ends  they  are  to 
reach,  and  also  how  best  to  reach  them.  This  instru(5tion 
must  not  only  be  given  them  at  the  time  of  organization, 
but  reiterated  as  often  as  opportunity  offers  or  necessit}- 
requires,  as  some  of  the  workers  will  unconsciously  get 
these  ends  confused  in  their  relative  order  and  impor- 
tance. The  first  point  to  be  gained  is  to  get  the  unsaved 
into  some  sort  of  social  relation  to  the  church,  where  such 
does  not  already  exist.  Hence  their  first  visits  will  have 
little  apparent  religious  or  churchly  significance,  being 
purely  social  calls.  When  kindly  relations  have  been 
established  the  effort  to  get  them  interested  in  the  services 
of  the  church  or  in  the  Sunday-school  may  begin.  Then 
it  may  be  well  to  make  them  acquainted  with  the  pastor 
who  can  easily  secure  an  invitation  to  call  at  their 
home.  When  in  the  judgment  of  the  pastor  and  his 
workers  the  soil  has  been  fully  prepared,  the  purely 


rOR  A  REVIVAL. 


Ill 


religious  work  by  conversation,  reading  of  Scriptures, 
and  prayer  may  be  commenced.  This  should  be  as  spon- 
taneous as  possible,  and  if  it  can  be  managed  that  the 
person  himself  broaches  the  theme  so  much  the  better. 
Frequent  consultations  should  take  place  between  the 
pastor  and  the  members  of  these  committees  in  order  that 
he  may  be  kept  informed  of  the  progress  making  in  each 
particular  case,  give  needed  advice,  and  spur  his  workers 
up  to  the  utmost  diligence.  An  occasional  meeting  of 
these  committees  for  interchange  of  experience  and 
further  instrudlion  will  be  very  profitable  and  probably 
generate  enthusiasm  in  the  work. 

A  large  and  well  selected  conimittee  for  greeting  and 
welcoming  strangers  who  come  into  the  services  will  also 
prove  very  useful.  Its  members  should  be  seated  in  such 
places  in  the  house  that  at  the  close  of  the  service  not  a 
single  stranger  shall  be  able  to  pass  out  without  being  v 
greeted  by  several  persons  and  invited  to  come  again. 
If  opportunity  offers,  a  few  introdudlions  may  be  given 
to  other  members  standing  by.  A  general  cooperation 
of  the  church  in  this  work  should  be  insisted  upon,  so 
that  strangers  may  easily  be  introduced  into  the  church 
life  and  be  attradled  by  its  kindliness  and  courtesy.  The 
private  work  of  the  visiting  committees  will  thus  be 
reinforced  and  utilized. 


112 


GETTING  READY 


In  addition  to  this  official  division  of  the  church  work 
which  might  not  give  every  member  of  the  society  his 
specific  duty,  there  should  be  a  personal  division  of  the 
responsibility  in  family  and  social  lines.  Ever}'  member 
should  be  held  responsible  for  some  one  or  more  of  their 
friends  who  are  unsaved,  whether  they  are  willing  to 
accept  the  responsibility  or  not.  This  sense  of  responsi- 
bility  and  care  should  be  deepened  as  in  the  case  of  the 
committees  hy  frequent  references  to  the  matter,  and 
inquiries  with  regard  to  the  progress  of  the  effort.  The 
pastor  should  not  allow  himself  to  be  discouraged  by 
indifference  and  the  neglecl  of  the  duty  assigned;  he 
must  patiently  applj^  the  tremendous  power  of  iteration, 
until  the  conscience  of  the  laggard  is  aroused.  This 
may  not  occur  until  the  revival  meeting  is  in  progress, 
but  then  all  the  power  of  the  previous  work  of  the  pastor 
will  be  manifested.  But  in  many  cases  he  will  see  the 
indifferent  graduall}"  become  interested,  and  persons  who 
promised  little  take  high  rank  as  workers.  It  is  the 
development  of  the  latent  power  of  the  church  which  has 
not  learned  it  own  value  which  is  one  of  the  chief  objedls 
in  view  in  closel}^  organizing  the  church  for  spiritual 
effort.  Its  development  in  public  prayer  and  testimony 
will  by  the  freshness  of  the  voices  and  experience  add 
variety  and  vigor  to  the  social  services,  and  inspire  hope- 


FOR  A  REVIVAI  .  113 

fulness  and  expecftancy  in  the  churcli  at  large.  New 
ideas,  new  modes  of  expression,  a  fresh,  earnestness  and 
zeal  will  break  up  the  monotony  of  former  meetings  and 
wake  greater  interest.  Moreover  the  momentum  gained 
by  their  progress  will  be  a  force  that  will  move  the 
unsaved  when  once  the  opportunity  comes  for  its  appli- 
cation. 

As  the  spiritual  tide  rises  in  the  church  this  personal 
work  will  be  done  more  and  more  willingly  and  thor- 
oughly, and  by  the  time  the  special  services  begin,  the 
church  will  be  prepared  to  lead  souls  to  Christ,  knowing 
who  and  where  they  are  and  how  to  win  them.  The 
trouble  the  pastor  has  taken  to  organize  his  work  will 
yield  returns  a  thousand  fold. 

Preparation  must  also  be  made  for  the  singing  in 
advance  of  the  meeting.  The  song-book  the  pastor 
intends  to  use  should  be  introduced  some  months  before 
the  meeting  begins  and  gone  over  by  the  musical  talent 
of  the  church  until  every  song  likely  to  be  useful  shall 
be  learned.  It  will  be  easy  to  institute  regular  meetings 
for  the  purpose  of  drilling  these  songs  in  a  thorough 
way.  While  the  pastor  need  not  be  the  leader  in  these 
gatherings  for  pradlice,  he  ought  to  control  them  with  a 
special  view  to  their  future  effedtiveness.  When  these 
8 


114  GETTING  READY 

songs  are  learned  they  ought  to  be  introduced  into  the 
church  services  and  prayer  and  testimony  meetings  so 
that  all  may  learn  them.  The  people  should  be  led, 
consciously  or  unconsciously,  to  commit  to  memory  one 
or  more  stanzas  of  the  more  valuable  hymns,  as  it  is  often 
of  great  importance  in  a  meeting  to  start  a  song  spon- 
taneously without  announcing  the  number.  If  the 
community  has  the  requisite  talent  and  public  sentiment 
will  permit  it,  provision  may  also  be  made  for  solos, 
duets,  quartets,  and  choruses,  the  pastor  insisting  that 
not  only  such  material  alone  be  provided  as  will  really 
impress  Gospel  truth,  but  also  that  they  be  sung  with 
the  proper  feeling  and  sense  of  their  meaning.  No 
matter  what  the  musical  power  of  the  pastor,  he  ought  to 
have  a  leader  appointed  for  the  singing.  He  should  not 
bear  this  burden  in  conne(5lion  with  his  other  arduous 
labors.  The  selecftion  of  this  leader  will  not  be  an 
easy  task  in  many  communities,  but  the  pastor  must 
do  the  best  that  is  possible  under  the  circumstances. 
The  essential  qualifications  of  a  good  leader  of  song  are 
the  following:  he  must  have  a  strong  voice  able  to 
be  heard  in  the  midst  of  the  loudest  singing,  sweet- 
ness not  being  so  important;  he  must  be  able  to  start 
a  song  at  the  proper  pitch  without  fail;  he  must  be  a 
real  leader  directing  the  people  and  controlling  them; 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  II5 

and  finally  lie  must  have  his  musical  resources  com- 
pletely at  command  and  be  able  to  fit  his  seledlion  to 
the  ruling  thought  or  feeling  quick  as  thought.  Whoever 
this  leader  may  be,  he  should  be  trained  and  instru(5led 
both  in  the  ends  to  be  reached  by  the  song,  and  how  to 
reach  them  most  successfully.  That  he  has  more  musical 
skill  than  the  pastor  does  not  by  any  means  prove  that 
he  does  not  need  the  instrudlion ;  indeed  his  very  culture 
in  this  direction  may  make  it  more  necessary,  as  he  is  in 
danger  of  considering  his  work  entirely  from  the  artistic 
side  than  which  nothing  can  be  more  fatal  to  the  spiritual 
success  of  the  song  service.  The  pastor  should  also 
have  an  understanding  with  him  that  he  seek  to  adapt 
himself  to  the  efforts  of  the  leader  of  the  meeting,  so 
that  the  latter  may  announce  hymns  and  otherwise  take 
charge  of  the  music  without  causing  offense.  The  pastor 
must  always  remain  in  full  control  of  the  service  in  all 
its  aspe(5ls. 

3.  There  will  be  need  for  more  definite  training  in  the 
methods  and  means  of  leading  souls  to  Christ  for  many 
of  the  members  both  old  and  young.  When  one  con- 
siders the  ignorance  of  many  Christian  workers  of 
human  nature  and  the  divine  truth,  one  is  amazed  that 
there  is  as  much  accomplished  as  there  is.  But  while 
the  power  of  God  can  overcome  the  disadvantage  of  igno- 


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GETTING  READY 


ranee,  that  hindrance  ought  to  be  taken  away  as  far  as  is 
possible.  Either  in  a  special  worker's  meeting,  in  the 
regular  prayer-meeting,  by  special  sermons,  or  by 
means  of  tracfts  and  books,  such  teaching  should  be 
given.  Particular  instrucftion  should  be  given  in  the 
pradlical  use  of  the  Word  of  God  for  immediate  spiritual 
ends.  The  texts  that  can  be  used  for  the  conviction  or 
comfort  of  the  unsaved,  as  need  may  require,  for  the 
rebuke  of  the  scoffer,  the  Universalist,  or  the  infidel, 
ought  not  only  to  be  definitely  known  so  as  to  be  easily 
referred  to,  but  even  committed  to  memory.  But  the 
workers  with  the  penitents  are  usually  especially  in  need 
of  instru(5lion  in  this  so  delicate  and  important  task. 
The  steps  in  conversion  should  be  definitely  known  and 
an  abundant  stock  of  Scripture  texts  to  be  quoted  from 
memory  vShould  be  acquired.  Instead  of  distradling, 
troubling  and  confusing  the  penitents  as  they  often  do  by 
their  excited  and  purposeless  clamor,  they  ought  to  lead 
souls  gently  and  lovingly  into  the  kingdom.  To  do  this 
requires  skill  and  knowledge  and  it  is  the  pastor's  duty 
in  one  way  or  another  to  furnish  these. 

This  work  has  been  carried  to  a  high  pitch  of  perfecftion 
in  the  training  classes  of  many  of  our  Young  Men's 
Christian  Associations,  and  much  help  may  be  gained 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  117 

from  the  plans  and  methods  they  employ,  as  detailed  in 
McConaughy's  "  Leaves  from  a  Worker's  Note-book." 
Sloan's  "Pra(5lical  Outlines  for  Workers'  Training 
Classes  ' '  is  considered  even  more  useful  by  many.  Indeed 
these  very  books  may  be  introduced  and  used  with  great 
profit,  omitting  such  portions  as  are  less  immediately 
valuable.  "The  Coming  Revival,"  a  series  of  revival 
tradls  written  by  a  number  of  successful  pastors,  projecfted 
and  edited  by  the  writer  for  this  very  purpose  has  been 
found  very  valuable  and  effe(ftive.  Nor  should  the 
pastor  be  deterred  from  attempting  in  one  way  or  another 
to  furnish  such  training  by  the  fadl  that  owing  to  the 
native  ability  and  culture  of  his  workers  no  very  com- 
plete or  finished  results  are  to  be  expedled.  Indeed 
this  fadl  only  proves  all  the  more  conclusively  that 
training  is  needed,  and  needed  greatly,  and  his  duty 
to  strive  after  such  improvement  as  in  the  nature  of 
the  circumstances  may  be  possible  becomes  more  evi- 
dent even  if  his  ideal  cannot  be  attained.  Should  no 
more  be  done  than  the  removal  of  a  few  offensive  and 
senseless  methods  at  the  altar,  and  the  equipment  of  a 
few  of  the  more  intelligent  workers  with  several 
effe(ftive  texts,  the  effort  has  been  rewarded.  In  many 
communities  where  there    is    a    great  unwillingness 


ii8 


GETTING  READY 


to  change  from  old  habits  and  customs,  it  may  be 
best  to  reach  these  ends  in  an  indiredl  way,  leaving  the 
purpose  entirely  out  of  sight.  In  any  case  it  will  not  be 
wise  to  attack  the  methods  that  obtain,  trusting  the 
better  way  that  the  pastor  may  introduce  to  win  its  way. 


FOR  A  REVIVAIv. 


119 


P^'jPs.K.T  III. 

GENERAL  PREPARATION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PREPARATION  OP  THB  UNSAVED. 

Not  the  least  necessary  preparatory  work  for  a  revival 
is  that  which  is  to  be  done  among  the  unsaved.  And  yet 
it  is  usually  entirely  negle(fted.  If  it  is  done  at  all  it  is 
in  an  indefinite,  purposeless  way  that  makes  thorough 
work  impossible.  The  final  end  of  all  revival  effort  is  to 
save  the  unconverted.  What  can  be  more  necessary  than 
to  bring  them  within  reach  of  the  gospel,  to  secure  an 
influence  over  them  that  will  render  them  more  accessible 
to  the  efforts  of  the  church  ?  The  preacher  too  often  pre- 
sumes that  all  he  needs  to  do  is  to  announce  the  meeting 
and  not  only  the  church-members,  but  the  unsaved  as 
well  will  be  present  in  force.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  the 
majority  of  communities  the  presumption  proves  to  have 
no  foundation  in  fa(5l.  In  cities  and  in  larger  towns 
where  other  attradlions  of  a  worldly  nature  abound;  it  is 


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GETTING  READY 


often  impossible  to  secure  the  attendance  of  any  consid- 
erable number  of  the  unconverted.  Hence  it  is  important 
that  preparatory  efforts  be  made  that  will  furnish  the 
church  with  materials  upon  which  to  work.  If  the 
previous  year  was  blessed  with  a  larger  ingathering  the 
necessity  is  all  the  greater  that  a  new  class  of  persons 
who  need  salvation  be  attracfted  and  prepared  for  the 
coming  meeting.  The  off  year  in  revivals  is  almost 
entirely  due  to  the  fa(5l  that  the  church  has  not  accumu- 
lated materials  in  which  it  has  a  deep  interest  and  which 
are  under  its  influence.  Nor  can  the  pastor  shift  the 
responsibility  upon  the  unsaved  themselves,  saying  that 
as  they  will  not  come  to  the  services  to  be  saved  they  are 
to  blame  if  they  are  lost,  and  that  he  will  be  innocent  in 
the  sight  of  God,  having  done  all  that  could  be  demanded 
of  him;  he  is  not  free  from  responsibility  until  he  has 
exhausted  all  his  resources  during  months  and  3'ears  of 
effort  to  attra(5t  them  to  the  services,  until  by  the  personal 
work  of  the  church  and  of  himself  the  gospel  invitation 
has  been  extended  not  only  in  the  house  of  God  but  also 
in  the  homes  of  the  people,  until  they  have  had  pressing 
invitations  to  attend  the  services  as  well  as  to  come  to 
Christ. 

But  even  when  the  attendance  of  the  unsaved  may  be 
certainly  expedled,  there  is  much  preparatory  work  that 


FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


121 


can  be  done  among  them  that  will  be  exceedingly  useful 
and  fa'^ilitate  the  work  of  saving  them.  Their  attitude 
towards  the  church,  its  pastor  and  its  individual  members, 
will  largely  determine  their  susceptibility  to  their  efforts. 
Their  interest  in  the  church  and  its  work  will  be  the  gates 
by  which  the  truth  and  the  Spirit  will  enter  their  lives. 
Hence  whatever  the  state  of  the  community,  the  pastor 
should  aim  months  before  he  plans  to  hold  his  special 
services  to  prepare  the  way  among  the  unsaved  for  their 
conversion. 

What  has  been  said  in  previous  chapters  concerning 
the  preparation  of  the  pastor  and  the  church  has  already 
outlined  much  of  the  work  that  needs  to  be  done,  and 
many  of  the  methods  to  be  employed.  Having  his  lists 
containing  the  names  and  residence  of  all  the  unsaved  in 
the  community  divided  among  his  workers,  so  that  some 
one  is  responsible  for  every  unconverted  person,  a  tre- 
mendous force  for  the  salvation  of  the  people  has  been 
set  in  motion.  But  he  must  by  no  means  depend  upon 
his  people  for  doing  all  the  work.  Having  his  lists  sys- 
temized  by  neighborhoods  or  streets,  he  ought  to  do  a 
great  amount  of  pastoral  visiting  among  the  unsaved. 
If  he  ever  needs  a  full  enduement  of  geniality  and  sym- 
pathetic, magnetic  kindliness,  it  is  in  this  phase  of  his 
labors.   A  hearty,  friendly  manner,  utterly  unprofessional 


122 


GETTING  READY 


and  manly,  showing  the  people  that  he  feels  at  home  in 
their  homes,  will  in  most  cases  win  the  good-will  and 
respedl  of  those  whom  he  visits.  A  stiff  professional  air, 
in  which  the  man  is  lost  in  the  preacher,  and  genialit}^  in 
clerical  dignity,  will  chill  the  hearts  of  the  people  and 
repel  them  from  the  church  and  from  Christ.  A  domi- 
neering, sharp,  and  egotistical  manner  will  have  an 
equally  fatal  effedl.  Shyness  and  timidity  manifesting 
themselves  in  reserve  or  awkwardness  are  little  fitted  to 
put  strangers  at  their  ease.  If  the  preacher  suspects 
himself  of  having  an^'  of  these  impediments  he  should 
tarry  at  prayer  until  self  is  lost  in  the  work  of  saving  the 
perishing.  It  is  the  preacher's  duty  to  make  those  who 
meet  him  esteem  him.  A\Tiile  he  cannot  compel  persons 
to  feel  kindly  towards  him,  there  must  be  some  serious 
flaw  in  his  life,  character,  or  manner,  or  a  grievous  lack 
of  tacl,  if  the  great  majority  of  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contacl  is  not  attracted  to  him.  But  the  oppo- 
site extreme  of  forced  joviality  and  insincere  flatter^^  is  • 
degrading  to  the  office  and  character  of  the  pastor.  Its 
reacftionary  influence  on  the  spiritual  health  of  the  pastor 
is  fatal.  If  the  kindliness  and  geniality  cannot  be 
genuine,  it  is  better  to  continue  the  natural  reserv^e  and 
stolidity  of  demeanor.  However  that  may  be,  the  spirit 
and  atmosphere  of  the  pastor's  intercourse  with  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  1 23 

people  should  impress  them  that  he  lives  in  a  religious 
sphere,  and  that  the  great  controlling  motives  of  his  life 
are  religious.  While  he  will  share  with  the  people  about 
him  in  all  the  good  and  innocent  interests  and  enjoy- 
ments which  help  to  make  up  our  human  life,  the  aroma 
of  the  higher  spiritual  life  must  ever  be  in  the  nostrils  of 
those  with  whom  he  associates.  Hence  whether  he 
expresses  himself  diredlly  on  religious  subjecfts  or  not,  a 
spiritual  influence  is  exerted.  This  is  all  the  more 
important  because  in  most  cases  it  will  not  be  wise  to 
obtrude  religious  conversation  in  a  personal  way  upon 
them  at  the  first  visit.  This  should  be  postponed  until 
the  pastor  is  reasonably  sure  that  it  will  be  kindly 
received  and  have  some  effed:.  Of  course  if  they  mani- 
fest a  willingness  to  consider  the  matter  or  themselves 
bring  it  up,  the  pastor's  duty  is  evident,  and  he  should 
improve  the  opportunity  afforded  him.  A  request  to 
pray  with  the  family  even  at  the  first  call  will  in  most 
instances  be  perfedlly  appropriate,  and  is  indeed  often 
expected.  A  quick  perception  of  what  is  appropriate 
under  given  circumstances,  or  in  a  word,  tadl,  is  very 
useful  in  this  work,  and  the  pastor  should  use  all  that  he 
has,  and  more,  if  he  can  acquire  it. 

If  the  pastor  can  secure  a  personal  introdu(5lion  to 
those  whom  he  wishes  to  win  through  some  mutual 


124  GETTING  READY 

acquaintance,  or  through  a  member  of  his  visiting  com- 
mittee, and  an  invitation  to  call,  he  will  have  gained  a 
decided  advantage  especially  among  persons  of  some 
social  culture.  Yet  where  this  for  an}^  reason  seems 
impossible  he  should  have  little  hesitation  in  making  the 
call  without  introducftion  or  invitation.  Few  will  resent 
this  libertj^  on  the  part  of  a  kind  and  faithful  pastor, 
while  most  will  look  upon  it  as  an  honor  and  appreciate 
it  all  the  more  that  there  was  no  previous  acquaintance. 
In  many  cases  it  will  be  wise  to  call  on  the  men  at  their 
stores,  work-shops,  or  in  the  fields  as  they  are  at  work; 
in  other  cases  it  will  not  be  advisable  at  all.  The  slight- 
est contadt  with  any  person  should  be  made  the  pretext 
for  claiming  an  acquaintance,  and  continuing  it  in  a  kind 
and  hearty  way.  A  cheerful  greeting  for  everj^one  on  the 
streets  or  on  the  road  will  find  general  appreciation. 
Occasions  of  public  interest  which  give  the  pastor  an 
opportunity  of  showing  his  S3^mpath3^  with  the  feeling 
of  the  community  by  his  presence,  or,  better  vStill,  by 
adlive  participation,  or  bj^  public  speech,  should  be  used  to 
add  to  his  general  influence  in  the  communit}-.  In  a 
thousand  waj^s  by  his  social  and  secular  adlivit^-  he  can 
gain  an  influence  and  win  the  confidence  of  the  great 
mass  of  the  unsaved  in  the  locality  in  which  he  labors. 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  1 25 

But  the  preacher  must  cooperate  with  the  pastor  in  this 
effort  to  get  hold  upon  the  unsaved  masses  by  rendering 
the  regular  public  service  as  interesting  and  attra(5live  as 
possible.  The  singing,  Scripture  reading,  and  prayer 
should  be  carefully  considered  from  this  standpoint  and 
all  things  lawful  done  to  make  them  pleasing  and  enjoy- 
able to  outsiders.  There  is  danger  of  overdoing  this,  of 
course,  but  most  preachers  err  in  the  opposite  dire(5lion. 
The  musical  element  of  the  service  should  be  taken  out 
of  the  formal  rut,  with  little  purpose  or  meaning,  and 
filled  with  life  and  power.  It  may,  or  may  not  be  wise 
under  existing  circumstances  to  organize  the  musical 
forces  of  the  church  into  a  choir,  but  in  any  event  they 
can  be  gathered  together  in  an  informal  way  and  drilled 
so  as  to  make  the  song  service  more  attracftive.  Above 
all  the  preacher  must  insist  that  the  congregation  sing, 
for  after  all  there  is  nothing  so  attractive  as  congrega- 
tional singing.  Add  to  this  carefully  read  Scriptures 
with  bright  and  instrudtive  comments  and  short,  earnest, 
genuine  prayers,  and  the  service  will  have  a  movement 
and  life  that  are  certain  to  draw  people. 

Of  course  the  sermon  will  be  the  great  magnet  with 
which  to  attra(5l  the  unsaved  to  the  services.  Not  for  the 
sake  of  the  applause  of  men,  saved  or  unsaved,  but  for 
the  sake  of  the  lost  whom  he  would  lead  to  Christ,  he 


126  GETTING  READY 

will  make  an  effort  to  make  his  sermons  as  interesting 
and  popular  as  loj'alt}-  to  the  truth  and  to  the  final  end  of 
saving  the  people  will  permit.  It  is  not  simpl}-  the 
preacher's  privilege,  it  is  his  absolute  dut}'  to  make  his 
preaching  as  striking  and  brilliant  as  he  can  within  the 
limits  and  with  the  motives  already-  indicated.  Nor 
need  he  wander  into  the  b3--wa3^s  of  science,  philosophy, 
or  current  events  to  secure  attracT:ive  themes;  biblical 
truth  still  affords  the  grandest  themes,  kindling  the 
imagination,  satisf^'ing  the  reason,  and  touching  the 
heart,  which  human  thought  can  consider.  Fresh  views 
of  the  old  truth  will  3-ield  striking  subjects  and  their 
announcement  will  3-ield  good  returns.  If  newspapers 
are  accessible  the3'  should  be  freely  used  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  good  old  minister  who  refused  to  use  the 
newspaper  because  it  was  degrading  to  the  Gospel  to 
bring  it  in  contacl  with  so  secular  an  institution  was  too 
fastidious  to  be  a  good  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
and  it  is  not  strange  that  the  slain  of  the  Lord  under  his 
ministrj^  were  few.  A  sermon  or  series  of  sermons  to 
3'oung  people,  or  to  3-oung  men,  or  to  an3^  other  import- 
ant class  in  the  communit3-,  will  often  awake  great 
interest  and  sers^e  to  build  up  the  congregation.  In 
general,  while  his  methods  should  be  legitimate  and  in 
no  bad  sense  sensational,  his  preaching  should  make  a 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  1 27 

sensation  in  the  community,  for  that  is  what  in  all  prob- 
ability is  needed.  The  preacher  should  not  allow 
himself  to  be  worried  by  the  criticisms  of  spiritually 
indolent  and  useless  people  who  make  their  keen  sense 
of  propriety  an  excuse  for  their  own  lack  of  effort,  and 
for  criticising  the  efforts  of  others  who  are  more  zealous 
and  faithful.  A  sandlified  sensationalism,  in  which 
personal  vanity  and  self-assertion  are  absent,  has  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  it.  John  the  Baptist  and  the 
Master-preacher,  Jesus  Christ,  both  created  a  tremendous 
sensation  by  their  preaching. 

But  in  addition  to  this  effort  to  make  his  preaching  as 
attractive  as  he  legitimately  can,  there  are  other  methods 
of  building  up  the  congregation  and  drawing  in  the 
unsaved.  Special  services  in  which  other  exercises  take 
the  place  of  the  sermon  ma}^  be  held.  A  missionary 
concert  by  the  Sunday-school  will  often  greatly  interest 
the  people  besides  yielding  other  desirable  results. 
Music  is  almost  always  acceptable,  and  an  occasional 
service  of  song  in  which  the  best  talent  of  the  commu- 
nity participates  will  attradl  large  audiences.  Care 
should  be  taken  that  these  do  not  degenerate  into 
concerts,  for  mere  musical  enjoyment  or  the  display 
of  skill.  The  announcement  of  a  lec51;ure,  or  series  of 
ledlures,  in  lieu  of  the  sermon  often  seives  the  same 


128  GETTIXG  READY 

purpose.  It  goes  without  sa3'ing  that  these  ledlures 
must  be  thoroughly  religious  in  matter  and  spirit.  They 
will  likely  differ  from  sermons  chiefly  in  their  form. 
One  pastor  gave  a  series  of  Sunday  evening  ledlures  on 
the  Ivord's  Prayer  with  excellent  results.  Another 
attracted  the  3^oung  people  by  a  series  on  the  "Young 
People  of  the  Bible."  A  number  of  le(?tures  on  Bunyan's 
"  Pilgrim's  Progress"  added  greatly  to  the  interest  and 
attendance  of  another  pastor's  services.  Whatever  the 
method  it  must  recognize  the  principle  that  intellecftual 
must  precede  spiritual  interest. 

But  the  preacher's  work  is  not  done  when  the  benedic- 
tion is  pronounced.  As  quickly  as  it  is  at  all  possible  he 
should  be  at  the  door  in  the  rear  of  the  house  to  speak  to 
the  unsaved  before  the^^  pass  out.  A  cordial  hand-shake 
with  the  stranger  as  well  as  with  the  acquaintance,  with 
a  word  of  welcome  or  a  personal  inquiry  or  two,  will 
have  great  value  in  building  up  a  congregation  of  regular 
attendants.  A  quick  eye  for  faces  and  a  firm  memory  for 
names  are  very  important  here  and  need  to  be  consciously 
cultivated  by  most  men.  He  will  be  free  to  speak  to 
every  one,  rich  or  poor,  children  as  well  as  adults.  It 
is  his  privilege  to  accost  the  stranger,  for  every  member 
of  his  congregation  is  his  guest,  hence  no  timidity  or 
false  scruples  of  propriety  should  restrain  him  from 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  129 

seeking  the  acquaintance  of  all  however  high  or  low  in 
the  social  scale.  Of  course  he  will  have  time  for  but  few 
words  with  each  person,  else  he  will  greet  but  a  small 
portion  of  those  who  have  been  present  whose  presence 
he  ought  to  recognize.  Yet  if  he  is  acquainted  with  all 
of  his  congregation  it  may  be  well  to  single  out  a  few 
who  most  need  encouragement  and  kindly  recognition, 
and  spend  the  little  time  at  his  disposal  with  them. 
Here  as  in  private,  the  * '  wisdom  of  the  serpent ' '  will  be 
needed  to  guide  the  talk  in  the  right  channel.  While 
general  religious  conversation  will  be  in  order,  with 
reference  to  the  meeting  or  the  truth  that  has  been 
preached  or  the  interests  of  the  church  at  large,  direcft 
personal  application  of  religious  truth  should  be  made 
only  when  the  plain  call  of  the  Holy  Spirit  or  of  the  evi- 
dent circumstances  is  felt.  Unless  a  general  interest  is 
felt  in  personal  religion  it  is  rarely  w^ise  to  speak  to  a 
person  on  this  topic  in  the  presence  of  others  or  in  a 
crowd.  Besides  his  own  personal  work  the  pastor  will 
have  an  eye  to  the  committee  for  welcoming  strangers, 
and  will  direcft  them,  and  call  their  attention  to  strangers 
that  are  in  danger  of  being  negledled  in  the  general  confu- 
sion.   Nor  will  a  robust,  genuine,  clerical  dignity  suffer 

from  this  freedom;  it  will  rather  flourish.    The  minister 
9 


GETTrN-G  READY 


who  is  hampered  hy  a  false,  artificial  dignity,  and  hindered 
in  using  this  golden  opportunity-  for  winning  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  and  making  or  renewing  their  acquaintance, 
is  unfortunate  and  deserves  to  be  pitied. 

WTiile  few  preachers  have  the  physical  vigor  to  teach 
a  class  in  the  Sundaj'-school  without  discounting  their 
pulpit  work,  the}'  ought  at  least  to  be  present  at  all 
the  sessions  if  at  all  possible.  In  most  communities  the 
Sunday-school  is  the  quarry^  from  which  most  of  the 
converts  are  dug  out  and  if  this  is  not  so,  something  is 
wrong  in  the  school  and  its  management  which  ought  to 
be  speedily  and  courageously  correcled.  The  pastor  who 
is  preparing  for  a  revival  should  therefore  pay  particular 
attention  to  the  members  of  the  Sundaj'-school.  While 
the  personal  acquaintance  of  all  the  scholars  is  important, 
that  of  the  unconverted  is  particularly^  so,  especially  of 
the  older  and  more  mature  ones.  As  the  pastor  of  the 
school  he  will  have  a  right  to  visit  their  homes  and  to 
give  them  such  pastoral  attention  as  the  circumstances 
may  permit.  The  relation  of  the  scholar  to  his  teacher 
may  easih'  be  discovered,  and  the  influence  of  the  latter 
understood.  ^\Tiere  teachers  have  the  proper  qualifica- 
tions for  spiritual  work,  their  attention  should  be  kept  on 
the  spiritual  needs  of  their  charges  and  their  responsi- 
bility emphasized  by  frequent  and  impressive  references 
to  it. 


FOR  A  RKVIVAI,.  131 

In  a  mission  school  in  the  West  there  was  a  class  of 
six  young  men  of  a  gay  and  lively  turn  who  attended 
chiefly  because  of  their  high  regard  for  their  teacher,  a 
young  lady  of  charming  manners  and  high  Christian  char- 
adter.  As  the  revival  season  approached  the  pastor 
concentrated  his  forces  upon  that  class  determined  to  win 
them  all  to  Christ.  The  teacher  cooperated  with  him 
most  heartily  in  this  effort,  and  early  in  the  meeting  they 
were  convi(?ted  and  speedily  converted.  They  were  the 
most  valuable  workers  won  during  that  meeting,  and  have 
all  been  officials  in  the  church  which  has  since  developed 
out  of  the  mission.  The  emphasis  of  the  class  idea  in 
this  instance  had  much  to  do  with  the  final  success. 

The  cooperation  of  the  superintendent  should  be 
sought  in  making  the  sessions  of  the  school  increasingly 
spiritual.  A  short  prayer  service  may  take  the  place  of 
some  of  the  less  important  features  of  the  regular  pro- 
gramme. A  short  address  by  the  superintendent  or  a 
leading  teacher  in  this  line  may  be  helpful.  With 
some  superintendents  this  is  not  as  easy  as  it  should 
be.  They  are  wedded  to  their  mechanical  routine 
and  anything  that  breaks  in  upon  their  programme 
is  deemed  an  intrusion.  Owing  to  a  false  con- 
ception of  the  relation  of  the  church  and  the  school, 
many  superintendents  look  upon  a  pastor's  advice  and 


132  GETTING  READY 

suggestions  as  more  or  less  gratuitous  and  officious,  and 
are  inclined  to  assert  their  authority'  as  superior  to  that 
of  the  pastor  who  to  manj'  of  them  seems  to  have  no 
rights  be\-ond  those  of  other  members  of  the  school.  In 
such  cases  the  pastor  should  insist  upon  his  authority' 
where  he  can  do  it  without  causing  strife;  but  where 
unkind  feelings  might  arise  the  pastor  usually  by  a  little 
strategy'  may  accomplish  the  principal  ends  he  desires. 
The  more  he  can  succeed  in  getting  the  superintendent 
and  the  teachers'  meeting  to  do  as  if  at  their  own  sug- 
gestion, the  more  heart}*  and  valuable  will  be  their 
cooperation. 

^"\Tiere  the  pastor  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  school,  and  adds  by  his  labors  to  its  pros- 
perity", there  will  xery  rareU*  be  any  trouble  on  his  part 
in  controlling  it  within  reasonable  bounds.  In  building 
up  the  attendance  of  the  school,  in  particular  he  can  do 
much.  AVith  the  canvass-book  or  his  lists  before  him,  he 
knows  where  the  families  reside  in  which  there  are 
persons  not  in  attendance  upon  any  Sundaj'-school,  and 
can  take  measures  to  solicit  and  in  many  cases  secure 
their  presence.  In  conneclion  with  the  superintendent 
and  teachers'  meeting  he  may  appoint  new  teachers  to 
\-isit  these  homes,  and  from  the  materials  thus  gathered 
to  form  new  classes.    Or  it  ma\-  be  wise  to  let  the  visiting 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  133 

committees  do  the  advance  soliciting,  and  where  scholars 
are  secured  their  names  can  be  reported  to  the  pastor  who 
will  hand  them  to  the  appropriate  teacher  whose  dut}^  it 
will  be  again  to  visit  the  famil}-  and  get  into  pleasant 
personal  relations  with  the  scholars  and  their  parents 
and  so  assure  their  attendance  and  interest.  By  the 
latter  plan  the  new  materials  will  be  scattered  through 
the  school  and  will  be  assimilated  more  rapidly,  while 
the  responsibility  can  be  divided  more  equally  among  the 
whole  corps  of  teachers.  These  scholars  should  be  gath- 
ered in  not  only  for  their  own  sakes,  but  also  for  that  of 
their  parents  and  other  friends  who  will  soon  recognize 
a  certain  bond  of  attachment  to  the  church  and  of  definite 
relation  to  it.  The  pastor  should  make  as  much  as 
possible  of  this  sense  of  relation  to  the  church,  and 
strengthen  it  constantl}"  by  all  the  methods  and  means  at 
his  command,  diredl  and  indiredl. 

Perhaps  not  in  all,  but  certainly  in  many  communities,  it 
will  be  very  useful  to  provide  a  series  of  entertainments, 
such  as  ledlures,  concerts,  and  the  like.  These  should 
be  free,  or  if  there  is  any  admission  fee  charged  it 
should  be  small  so  as  to  exclude  no  one.  If  there  is 
danger  that  these  entertainments  will  not  be  attended  by 
the  persons  whom  it  is  desired  to  attradl,  and  the 
audiences  are  made  up  of  Christians  from  the  various 


134  GETTING  READY 

churches,  it  ma}*  be  well  to  issue  invitations,  either 
written  or  printed,  to  the  persons  whose  presence  is 
desired.  The  members  of  the  church  will  of  course  be 
remembered  as  they  will  be  needed  to  do  the  work  that 
must  fall  upon  them.  The  utmost  care  should  be  taken 
to  send  invitations  to  every  unsaved  family  and  person 
in  the  communitj^  or  else  the  slighted  individual  will 
antagonize  the  church.  Admission  may  be  exclusively 
b}'  tickets,  and  the  tickets  sent  to  the  church  members 
and  the  unsaved  persons  b}"  mail  or  by  the  visiting  com- 
mittees. In  village  or  countrj^  communities  these 
methods  of  limiting  the  attendance  will  rarely  be  needed, 
and  would  only  cause  trouble  if  attempted.  The  workers 
need  only  urge  their  unsaved  neighbors  and  friends  to 
attend  to  reach  the  persons  desired.  Even  if  the  persons 
in\'ited  by  any  of  these  methods  do  not  attend  the  enter- 
tainments, they  will  be  pleased  by  the  kindly  feeling 
represented  b^^  the  invitations  and  made  more  accessible. 
Care  should  be  taken  that  these  entertainments  be  not 
known  as  intended  simph^  to  win  the  unsaved;  let  that 
idea  once  become  general  and  they  will  not  come. 
"Surely  in  vain  the  net  is  spread  in  the  sight  of  any 
bird"  is  still  as  true  as  in  the  days  of  the  wise  men  of 
old.  A  little  holy  guile  in  these  matters  will  produce 
valuable  results.    The  pastor  must  also  use  the  utmost 


FOR  A  REVIVAIv.  135 

discretion  and  caution  that  none  of  these  entertainments 
contain  elements  that  are  harmful  or  inconsistent  with 
the  final  end  he  has  in  view.  The  unsaved  often  have  a 
more  sensitive  conscience  with  reference  to  what 
Christians  ought  and  ought  not  to  do  than  Christians 
themselves.  A  series  of  instru(5live  and  popular  lectures 
varied  by  a  concert  or  two,  an  elocutionary  entertainment, 
or  a  couple  of  socials  can  do  no  harm  if  managed  with 
ordinary  discretion,  but  will  do  much  to  gather  the 
unconverted  about  the  church  and  make  them  accessible 
to  the  spiritual  efforts  of  the  pastor  and  his  workers. 

It  should  be  understood  that  at  the  close  of  these 
entertainments  the  audience  is  expedled  to  remain  for  a 
little  social  intercourse,  the  various  committees  and 
indeed  the  church  at  large  doing  their  utmost  to  make 
the  social  feature  free  and  pleasant,  speaking  to  those 
who  are  unknown,  making  the  acquaintance  of  the 
strangers,  and  introducing  them  to  others.  Stiffness  and 
formality  at  such  a  time  would  be  criminal.  Kindliness, 
unaflfedled  and  sweet,  should  be  the  prevailing  spirit. 
The  tadl  and  skill  of  the  pastor  will  here  have  a  large 
opportunity  which  will  in  the  near  future  be  fruitful  in 
spiritual  results.  The  church  idea  must  be  emphasized 
constantly  by  both  pastor  and  workers,  so  that  it  will 
be  the  church,  not  the  pastor  or  workers  as  individuals, 


136 


GETTING  READY 


that  vrill  get  the  credit  for  whatever  attracts  the  people 
and  consequenth'  will  wield  the  influence. 


.^It  is  often  possible  to  attach  many  of  the  unsaved  to 
the  church  still  more  closeh^  by  making  them  responsible 
for  some  share  of  the  work,  such  as  they  are  able  to  do. 
In  a  community"  known  to  the  writer  the  pastor  gath- 
ered the  young  people  and  trained  them  in  the  music  he 
proposed  to  sing  during  the  coming  meetings  and  the}' 
understood  that  they  would  be  responsible  for  the  singing 
during  that  time.  Before  the  meetings  had  been  in 
progress  many  da^'s  almost  every  member  of  that  choir 
had  been  converted.  So  in  many  of  the  pureh'  secular 
phases  of  the  church  life  it  will  often  be  possible  in  one 
wa}'  or  another,  or  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  to  use  the 
unsaved  and  in  so  doing  prepare  the  way  for  their  salva- 
tion. The  fertilit}'  of  the  pastor  in  expedients  will  be 
marked  by  his  success  in  finding  work  to  do  for  the 
unsave4,J 

Perhaps  no  better  illustration  of  these  methods  and 
their  happy  results  can  be  given  than  the  following 
account  of  the  work  of  Dr.  Newell,  an  exceedingl}'  suc- 
cessful pastor,  in  his  "Revivals,  How  and  \\Tien." 

"  In  order  to  secure  a  yearh'  ingathering  of  j'oungmen, 
it  is  indispensable  that  they  should  ever^'  year  be  drawn 
to  us  from  the  outside  world.    But  man}-  negleclers  of  the 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  137 

san(5luary  would  not  attend  revival  meetings;  hence 
there  must  be  something  to  a':tracl  them;  some  prepara- 
tory steps  must  be  taken. 

After  the  summer  vacation  we  commenced  our  year  of 
evangelistic  work.  The  question  was,  'How  can  we 
insure  the  largest  number  of  vidlories  for  the  Master  ? ' 
The  pastor  and  the  choir  did  not  propose  to  do  this  work 
alone.  The  work  was  not  left  to  the  Sabbath-school  or 
Bible-class.  The  people  were  not  merely  urged  from  the 
pulpit  in  a  general  way  to  do  more  for  Christ.  All  the 
soldiers  of  the  cross  were  to  aid  their  chosen  leader  in 
wise  and  specific  ad:ion.  Hence  they  must  be  interested, 
consulted. 

After  surveying  the  field,  and  talking  with  the  officers 
of  the  church,  I  was  in  the  habit  of  inviting  all  the 
Christian  young  men  of  the  congregation  to  meet  me. 
After  prayer  and  song  I  would  perhaps  say:  'What  can 
we  do  this  coming  campaign  for  young  men  and  others 
who  are  irreligious  'i  How  can  we  win  them  to  ourselves 
and  to  Christ?'  Perhaps  one  would  propose  several 
reunions.  This  would  be  discussed  and  voted.  Com- 
mittees on  music  and  flowers  and  invitations,  with 
chairman  and  secretary  and  treasurer,  would  be  appointed. 
Another  would  perhaps  propose  that  the  pastor  be 
requested  to  deliver  a  short  course  of  Sabbath  evening 


138  GETTING  RE-IDY 

leclures  to  3'oung  men,  on  practical  siibjecls.  This  was 
also  decided  hy  vote.  The  pastor  could  suggest  or 
objecl.  In  this  way  he  obtained  just  what  he  wanted; 
but  it  was  their  work.  The^'  made  the  arrangements 
and  bore  the  expenses.  It  was  young  men's  missionary 
work,  in  which  the  pastor  and  the  church  and  the  con- 
gregation and  outsiders  were  all  finally  enlisted. 

After  a  time  notice  came  to  the  pulpit,  sa3'ing,  '  This 
church  and  congregation  are  invited  by  the  young  men 
to  a  reunion  to  be  held  in  the  Lecture  and  Sunda\--school 
rooms.'  Ever\-body  was  desired  to  bring  in  outsiders, 
and  the  poor  of  the  congregation.  The  pastor  with  his 
companion  and  others  were  earU*  present  to  receive  an 
introduction  to  strangers,  and  to  give  welcome  to  all. 
Among  others  there  would  be  knots  of  3'oung  men  to 
know  and  to  entertain.  The  pastor  and  others  gave 
introduction  and  special  attention  to  the  friendless  and 
the  unknown.  He  put  in  his  parish-book  the  name  and 
residence  of  strangers,  with  the  promise  of  a  future  call. 
It  was  really  missionary-  work. 

On  this  occasion  the  chairman  of  the  young  men's 
committee  presided.  He  finalh*  called  upon  the  free  and 
happ\'  assembly  to  listen  to  some  special  music.  The 
pastor  and  several  others  would  be  called  out  to  say  a 
word  of  love  and  cheer.    The  assembly  would  join  in 


FOR  A  RBVIVAI..  139 

a  familiar  song.  Then  came  a  word  of  prayer  and  the 
benedicftion.  In  reviewing  this  scene,  how  many  said  to 
me:  '  What  a  delightful  time  we  have  had.  How 
pleasant  and  home-like  it  all  seemed.  This  is  the  church 
I  want  to  attend.'  Two  or  three  of  these  reunions  were 
held  during  the  autumn.  In  a  small  congregation  such 
reunions  might,  perhaps,  be  held  at  a  private  house. 

In  the  meantime  appropriate  subjedls  for  five  or  six 
Sabbath  evening  discourses  were  selecfted  by  the  pastor. 
The  young  men  printed  the  subjecfts  and  the  time  of 
their  delivery.  These  cards  were  distributed  in  the  pews 
and  in  the  Sabbath-schools.  Every  one  was  expe(fted  to 
do  his  best  to  circulate  them  among  the  young  men  and 
the  strangers  of  the  community.  In  this  way  a  large 
crowd  was  always  colle<5led.  Sometimes  a  distinguished 
clergyman  would  open  the  course,  and  once  a  whole 
course  of  ledlures  was  delivered  by  different  pastors  in 
the  city.  The  subjecfts  discussed  were  eminently  pradli- 
cal.  A  negledler  of  the  san(5luary,  who  kept  his  store 
open  on  the  Sabbath,  said  to  me  one  Sabbath  evening: 
*  I  am  sorry  these  ledlures  have  closed.  I  would  love  to 
attend  such  meetings  every  Sabbath  evening  in  the 
year.'  His  large  family  were  brought  into  the  fold  of 
Christ. 


I40  GETTING  READY 

During  the  autumn,  boxes  of  missionary  clothing 
were  prepared.  Entertainments  were  sometimes  given 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  salary  of  city  missionaries. 
Many  calls  were  made.  By  all  these,  and  other  means, 
there  was  much  social  and  familiar  intercourse  among 
parishioners  and  outsiders.  Many  strangers  had  come 
to  be  our  friends.  In  all  this  work  the  end  in  view 
was  the  salvation  of  souls.  During  this  time  sinners 
were  often  converted;  but  this  was  a  preparation  of  the 
field.  It  was  the  ploughing  and  the  harrowing.  As 
soon  as  the  Week  of  Prayer  arrived,  all  this  general 
work  was  abandoned.  As  a  wise  business  arrangement 
this  was  an  indispensable  measure.  No  absorbing  matter 
must  obtrude.  The  time  had  now  come  for  that  thorough 
preparation  of  heart  to  which  I  have  already  referred. 
The  one  specific  and  uninterrupted  aim  was  now  to  be  the 
present  conversion  of  sinners.  Bonaparte  made  specific 
arrangements  for  a  confli(5l.  The  merchant  prepares  for 
the  busy  season.  With  equal  propriety  and  profit  we 
prepare  for  an  ingathering  of  souls. 

Worldly  young  men  and  strangers  became  our  friends, 
and  they  were  so  enlisted  in  this  movement  that  they 
could  not  be  drawn  away  by  the  frivolities  of  the  city. 
They  attended  our  evangelistic  prayer-meetings,  in 
which  Christian  young  men  took  part.    This  wise  timing 


FOR  A  REVIVi^Iv. 


141 


of  things  never  insured  a  revival,  but  it  always  proved 
and  invaluable  aid.  It  vastly  increased  the  number 
saved. ' ' 

Of  spiritual  preparation  there  can  be  comparatively 
little  among  the  unconverted.  There  may  and  ought  to 
be  much  of  instrucftion  given  in  the  various  evangelical 
truths  of  the  Bible,  and  put  in  such  a  form  that  they  will 
be  deeply  impressed  with  its  truth  and  reasonableness. 
Where  there  are  two  sermons  each  Sunday,  it  may  be 
well  to  preach  in  the  evening  on  themes  intended  for  the 
unsaved,  leading  them  to  recognize  their  need  of  conver- 
sion and  of  salvation  from  sin.  These  should  become 
increasingly  evangelistic  and  earnest  until  the  special 
services  begin.  The  thought  of  a  coming  revival  may 
be  used  to  generate  expecflancy  even  in  unsaved  persons. 
The  best  preparation  of  the  unsaved  will  be  that  which 
results  indirecftly  from  the  rising  tide  of  spiritual  power  in 
the  pastor  and  in  the  church.  As  the  Spirit  works  more 
and  more  mightily  in  the  church,  they  will  feel  his 
influence  too.  The  sermons  intended  for  the  church  and 
used  by  the  Spirit  for  the  waking  of  the  church  will 
"find"  the  sinner  as  well.  Indeed  there  is  generally 
little  use  in  trying  to  impress  the  unsaved  until  the 
church  manifests  the  rising  tide.  When  purely  personal 
religious  work  is  done  before  the  church  is  ready  there  is 


142  GETTING  READY 

great  danger  of  repelling  the  unconverted  and  in  harden- 
ing the  unsaved  against  the  truth  before  the  time  for 
aggressive  effort  has  come.  It  is  a  mistake  to  urge 
sinners  to  come  to  Christ  before  the  Christian  people  are 
ready  to  pray  with  and  for  them.  While  this  is  trae  in 
general,  there  may  occur  specific  cases  where  the  plain 
duty  of  the  pastor  will  be  to  strive  to  lead  the  soul  to 
Christ  at  once.  The  conversion  of  a  sinner  or  the 
reclamation  of  a  backslider  ma}"  thus  be  used  to  spur  up 
the  church  to  a  completer  consecration. 

If  this  preparatory^  work  is  done  year  after  year  among 
the  unsaved  there  is  no  reason  why  there  should  not  be 
an  ingathering  into  the  church  every  year.  Of  course 
the  results  looked  at  numerically  will  vary  with  the 
circumstances  over  which  the  pastor  cannot  in  the  very 
nature  of  things  expecft  to  have  any  control.  But  with 
God  ever  ready  to  save  those  who  come  unto  him,  and 
with  unsaved  persons  in  the  community,  every  year 
ought  to  have  its  harvest  of  souls,  and  will  have  if  the 
pastor  does  his  full  duty. 


FOR  A  REVIVAI.. 


CHAPTER  II. 

CALLING  AN  E^VANGELIST. 

Where  it  is  at  all  possible  the  pastor  should  be  his  own 
evangelist.  While  the  results  may  not  appear  as  great  as 
when  the  help  of  an  evangelist  is  secured,  they  are 
usually  more  permanent  and  leave  the  church  in  better 
condition.  The  pastor's  influence  over  his  people,  his 
standing  in  the  community,  and  his  own  Christian 
life  and  character  will  be  built  up  by  his  per- 
sonal efforts  in  revival  work,  and  his  power  for  good 
for  the  future  greatly  increased.  His  relation  to  the  con- 
verts will  be  more  intimate  and  his  influence  over  them 
greater.  In  every  respedl  the  results  will  be  more 
healthy  and  normal  if  the  pastor  is  the  leader  in  the 
special  services  instead  of  a  stranger.  But  there  are 
exigencies  when  the  engagement  of  an  evangelist  is 
proper  and  advisable.  When  the  pastor's  health  will  not 
permit  him  to  undertake  the  exhausting  and  arduous 
task;  when  he  finds  by  repeated  past  attempts  that  he 
lacks  the  gifts  and  talents  necessary  for  effedlive  revival 
work  (truly  a  sad  discovery!);  when  by  his  own  or  others' 


144  GETTING  READY 

fault  he  has  not  the  necessary  control  of  the  working  forces 
of  the  church;  when  in  previous  years  he  has  largely  won 
those  elements  in  the  community  which  are  susceptible 
to  his  ideas  and  methods;  when  in  a  long  pastorate  the 
many  meetings  held  by  a  single  pastor  have  caused  the 
congregation  to  fall  into  a  rut  in  revival  work  which  robs 
it  of  spontaneity  and  power  and  out  of  which  they  need 
to  be  helped  by  an  impulse  from  without;  when  owing 
to  other  attradlions  and  distradlions  the  pastor  finds 
himself  unable  to  draw  any  considerable  number  of  the 
unsaved  to  the  special  services;  when  all  other  efforts 
and  plans  have  failed  to  stir  the  community  on  religious 
subjedls;  when  any  of  these  or  other  like  conditions  obtain 
it  will  be  wise  to  seek  the  help  of  a  competent  evangelist 
whose  spirit  and  methods  are  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the 
community. 

To  make  such  a  choice  and  to  secure  the  services  of  the 
chosen  evangelist  at  the  time  when  the  congregation  is 
ripe  for  a  revival  is  no  light  responsibility  or  tri- 
fling task.  Within  the  last  few  years  the  number 
of  evangelists  has  been  rapidly  increasing.  Among 
them  are  men  of  high  chara(5ler  and  large  ability, 
but  also  those  who  are  utterly  unreliable  and  irre- 
sponsible. Some  are  the  merest  charlatans  whose 
only  call  to  the  work  is  an  adventurous  disposition  and 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  145 

instlndlive  desire  to  create  a  .serivSation  wherever  they  go, 
having  no  real  piety  and  little  regard  for  the  truth,  and 
moving  in  an  atmosphere  of  undefined  but  persistent 
suspicion.  To  glorify  themselves  seems  to  be  their  chief 
objedl  in  life  to  which  all  other  interests  are  sacrificed. 
To  have  engaged  such  an  evangelist  in  ignorance  of  his 
real  charaAer  is  a  calamity  to  pastor  and  people.  To 
prevent  such  a  calamit}^  the  pastor  should  make  a  careful 
investigation  of  the  past  record  of  the  evangelist  whom 
he  is  inclined  to  call.  There  are  so  many  excellent  and 
successful  evangelists  in  the  field  that  a  mistake  in  this 
respedl  is  unnecessary.  Indeed  the  variety  of  spirit  and 
methods  employed  by  them  is  so  great  that  if  the  pastor 
attends  to  the  matter  in  time,  he  will  have  little  trouble 
in  securing  the  help  not  simply  of  an  eflficient  evangelist, 
but  of  one  adapted  to  the  demands  of  the  situation,  and 
one  who  will  supplement  his  own  deficiencies. 

Ministers  are  often  misled  in  their  judgment  of  evan- 
gelists by  an  undue  emphasis  of  preaching  ability.  Of 
two  evangelists  equal  in  other  respecfts,  the  better 
preacher  should  of  course  be  chosen,  but  that  is  not  the 
final  basis  of  judgment.  Some  of  the  best  evangelists 
are  poor  preachers  according  to  accepted  standards.  The 
great  essential  talent  of  the  evangelist  by  which  he 
10 


146  GETTING  READY 

stands  or  falls  is  his  heat  producing  power.  If  the 
pastor  and  the  Sundaj^-school  have  been  doing  their 
work  aright,  the  people  will  not  need  instruction  so 
much  as  a  vitalizing  of  what  the}^  have  learned,  and  an 
impulse  from  without  to  acft  according  to  that  instruction. 
To  lead  the  people  to  transmute  knowledge  into  adlion  is 
the  mission  of  the  evangelist  in  most  communities,  and 
he  must  be  judged  by  his  power  to  lead  people  to  act 
rather  than  by  the  value  of  his  preaching.  If  he  is 
overflowing  with  religious  earnestness,  if  the  truths  of 
the  Gospel  are  to  him  veritable  realities,  if  he  has  a  con- 
tagious enthusiasm  that  w^arms  the  people,  if  he  is 
genuine  and  sincere  in  the  expression  of  his  religious 
life,  no  matter  how  weak  or  weighty  his  preaching,  he 
w^ill  succeed  in  quickening  and  warming  saints  and 
in  leading  sinners  to  Christ.  Other  things  being  equal, 
the  evangelist  who  is  a  good  singer  or  who  is  accompa- 
nied by  a  good  leader  of  song  is  to  be  preferred,  as 
that  will  not  only  add  to  the  general  interest  and 
power  of  the  services,  but  also  serv^e  to  draw  into  the 
meetings  unconverted  persons  who  could  not  otherwise 
be  induced  to  attend. 

When  an  evangelist  is  desirable  an  engagement  should 
be  made  with  him  a  sufficient  length  of  time  in  advance 
and  a  definite  date  fixed  if  at  all  possible  in  order 


FOR  A  REVIVAL  147 

that  the  pastor  may  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming. 
The  congregation  and  the  community  should  be  inter- 
ested in  the  coming  worker  by  private  conversations 
concerning  him,  and  when  possible  by  a  discreet  use  of 
the  newspapers.  Care  should  be  taken  however  to  be 
corre(5l  as  well  as  kindly  in  the  descriptions  given  of  him 
and  his  work,  lest  there  be  a  general  disappointment  and 
readlion  when  he  comes.  The  Christian  workers  of  the 
church  must  be  impressed  privately  and  publicly  with 
the  necessity  of  cheerfully  and  loyally  accepting  the 
methods  of  the  evangelist  however  distasteful  and  unreas- 
onable they  may  appear  at  first  sight.  The  church 
should  also  be  made  to  realize  that  upon  them  and  their 
cooperation  more  than  upon  the  work  of  the  evangelist 
will  the  success  of  the  meeting  depend.  When  an 
evangelist  comes  Christians  are  often  inclined  to  stand 
back  as  spedlators  to  see  how  he  will  succeed.  This  atti- 
tude is  very  unfortunate  and  prevents  a  large  success 
unless  he  has  the  power  to  change  it. 

Arrangements  should  be  made  in  advance  to  provide 
for  the  compensation  of  the  evangelist  which  should  be 
generous  and  ungrudging.  A  competent  committee 
should  be  appointed  to  canvass  the  community  and  raise 
the  desired  funds.  Instead  of  this  plan  there  may  be  col- 
ledlions  held  at  every  service,  or  a  strong  public  effort  at 


148  GETTING  READY 

the  close  of  the  series  of  meetings.  While  few  evangel- 
ists demand  a  specified  sum,  many  of  them  have  their 
own  plans  for  raising  what  they  are  to  receive.  It  may 
be  well  therefore  to  give  him  an  opportunity  for  express- 
ing his  preferences  in  the  case.  The  best  possible 
arrangements  should  also  be  made  for  his  comfort.  A 
home  should  be  secured  for  him  near  the  church,  where 
he  need  not  feel  the  restraints  of  a  guest,  but  can  feel  free 
to  come  and  go  at  his  pleasure.  A  room  well  heated 
and  comfortably  furnished  where  he  can  be  in  stricT;  pri- 
vacy, where  he  can  unbend,  rest,  study,  meditate,  pray, 
without  interruption,  should  be  provided.  It  should  be 
understood  that  he  is  not  to  be  disturbed  and  imposed 
upon  by  unnecessary^  calls  and  visits. 

By  securing  the  assistance  of  an  evangelist  the  pastor 
has  neither  resigned  his  ofiice  nor  unloaded  the  responsi- 
bilities that  are  upon  him  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
people.  His  public  leadership  may  be  held  in  abeyance 
for  a  few  days,  but  in  private  his  people  should  not  miss 
his  direction  and  stimulus.  Where  the  employment  of  an 
evangelist  cripples  the  influence  of  a  pastor  it  is  usually 
his  own  fault.  He  throws  off  all  the  responsibility  upon 
the  evangelist,  and  feels  that  he  has  done  his  duty  when 
he  prays  when  he  is  called  upon.  While  the  evangelist 
is  present  the  pastor  should  magnify  his  office  as 


FOR  A  REVIVAI.. 


149 


pastor,  doing-  the  private  personal  work  that  is  often 
more  important  than  the  public  service,  and  which  no 
one  ought  to  be  so  able  to  perform  as  he.  He  should  not 
expedt  the  evangelist  to  do  much  of  this  pastoral  work, 
as  he  will  likely  need  all  his  strength  for  the  public 
service.  The  pastor  should  come  into  personal  contadl 
with  every  awakened  sinner  by  conversations  in  private 
and  in  the  congregation,  and  get  into  such  personal  rela- 
tions with  every  convert  that  he  may  be  able  to  influence 
and  control  him  after  the  meeting  has  closed.  By  his 
deep  and  patent  anxiety  for  the  success  of  the  special 
services,  by  his  deep  religious  earnestness  and  fervor,  by 
his  tireless  private  efforts,  the  pastor  should  impress  the 
congregation  that,  while  the  evangelist  is  in  seeming 
control,  he  is  the  real  leader  and  manager  of  the  work. 
This  may  be  done  without  in  the  least  hampering  the 
movements  of  his  helper  whose  methods  and  public 
leadership  he  ought  to  accept  in  a  large-hearted  and  loyal 
way  perfectly  consistent  with  a  proper  self-respe(5l. 
There  must  be  some  extreme  imprudence  or  folly  in  the 
measures  of  the  evangelist  before  the  pastor  is  justified 
in  opposing  them  among  his  people,  much  less  in  the 
presence  of  the  unsaved.  The  fadl  that  the  stranger  can 
use  methods  that  it  would  be  the  height  of  folly  for 
the  pastor  to  attempt  is  one  of  the  advantages  connedled 
with  his  assistance.  The  very  fa(5l  that  the  pastor  cannot 
or  has  not  used  a  given  method  may  be  the  best  reason 


GETTING  RP:ADY 


for  its  use  by  the  evangelist.  Very  frequently  at  the 
beginning  of  a  series  of  meetings  the  evangelist's  fearless, 
unsparing  treatment  of  the  weaknesses  and  follies  of 
professed  Christians  provokes  a  passing  antagonism  and 
bitterness  against  him.  The  pastor  should  not  be  misled 
or  w^orried  if  this  should  happen,  nor  should  he  join  the 
hue  and  cry  against  the  evangelist  that  he  is  scolding 
and  denouncing  too  much.  This  antagonism  is  only  the 
promise  of  thorough  work  and  large  results.  But  while 
the  pastor  should  not  express  any  sympathy  with  the 
complaints  of  the  people,  he  should  also  avoid  participat- 
ing in  the  severity  which  the  evangelist  may  find  it 
necessary  to  use.  He  cannot  afford  as  can  the  evangel- 
ist to  risk  the  petmanent  alienation  of  his  people. 
Kindliness,  patience,  and  tadl  should  characterize  the 
pastor's  adlions  in  such  an  exigency. 

Mutual  forbearance,  consideration,  and  appreciation 
will  make  the  association  of  the  pastor  and  the  evangelist 
a  delightful  and  profitable  one.  The  pastor  should  learn 
all  the  evangelist  can  teach  him  of  the  management  and 
control  of  evangelistic  services.  The  most  valuable 
result  of  a  meeting  held  by  an  evangelist  has  often  been 
the  new  conceptions  of  the  work  gained,  the  new  methods 
acquired,  the  new  spirit  of  aggressiveness  absorbed  by 
the  pastor  in  whose  church  the  services  were  held. 


FOR  A  REVIVAI.. 


CHAPTER  III. 

MISCELLANEOUS  PREPARATION. 

The  proper  announcement  of  a  revival  meeting"  is  more 
of  a  fine  art  than  most  preachers  realize.  It  is  not 
enough  to  give  the  people  a  knowledge  of  the  proposed 
services.  They  must  be  so  advertised  as  to  create  a 
desire  to  attend  them  from  the  very  beginning.  Even  in 
country  or  village  communities,  where  less  effort  is 
required,  very  much  less  is  done  in  this  diredlion  than 
should  be  done.  The  families  of  the  church  who  for 
sufficient  or  insufficient  reasons  have  been  absent  from 
several  of  the  recent  regular  services  may  know  nothing 
of  the  opening  of  the  campaign.  The  unconverted  fam- 
ilies who  rarely  or  never  go  to  church  are  ignorant  of  the 
meetings  until  they  have  been  in  progress  for  some  time 
and  something  unusual  occurs  and  becomes  the  subje(5l 
of  general  conversation.  But  in  larger  towns  and  cities 
the  matter  of  advertising  the  expedled  revival  services 
becomes  one  of  the  first  importance  and  needs  careful 
attention.  Fertility  in  expedients  and  ta(5t  will  find 
abundant  occasion  for  exercise  in  this  task.  Methods 


152  GETTING  READY 

must  vary  with  the  circumstances^  and  while  anything 
sensational  or  undignified  is  to  be  carefully  avoided,  the 
neater  and  more  striking  the  plan  the  more  efFe(ftive  will 
it  be.  From  year  to  year  it  may  be  well  to  vary  the 
methods  employed  so  as  to  insure  attention  and  interest. 
A  rapid  course  of  house  to  house  visitation  in  which  no 
family  in  or  out  of  the  church  is  missed  and  in  which  the 
chief  or  only  topic  of  conversation  is  the  proposed  special 
services  will  be  found  a  laborious  but  very  eflScient  plan 
in  small  communities.  To  this  may  be  added  a  printed 
or  still  better  a  written  postal  reminding  every  family  in 
the  community  of  the  opening  of  the  meetings  a  day  or 
two  before  they  begin.  In  larger  communities  a  printed 
poster  conspicuously  displayed  in  public  places  will  be 
useful.  These  should  be  supplemented  by  neatly  printed 
invitations  to  the  services  to  be  sent  by  mail  to  the 
unsaved  persons  in  the  community.  These  invitations 
should  emphasize  the  coming  of  the  evangelist,  the  good 
singing,  or  other  attradlions  that  have  been  provided  as  a 
bait  and  which  are  likely  to  interest  those  to  whom  the 
invitations  are  dire(5led.  They  should  not  be  too 
aggressively  personal  in  religious  matters,  else  they  will 
repel  instead  of  invite.  A  few  pertinent  Scripture  texts 
will  bear  the  message  less  obtrusively,  and  make  the 
proper  religious  impression  without  giving  offense.  By 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  153 

inserting  the  name  of  the  family  to  whom  they  are  sent, 
they  may  be  made  more  dire(5l  and  personal.  After  the 
services  have  begun,  small  hand-bills  may  be  distributed 
in  the  neighborhood  calling  attention  to  the  progress  of 
the  meeting.  The  press  where  it  is  available  should  be 
Used  to  the  full  extent  of  the  courtes}'  and  good-will  of  its 
editors.  The  tacftics  of  those  who  wish  to  sell  their 
wares  or  who  strive  to  recommend  the  amusements  they 
offer  the  people  may  be  studied  and  with  proper  modifi- 
cations imitated  by  the  energetic  pastor  as  he  seeks  to 
secure  the  attendance  of  the  unsaved. 

There  are  a  few  other  little  matters  of  preparation 
which  deserve  at  least  passing  notice.  They  are  material 
rather  than  spiritual,  but  may  have  an  influence  on 
spiritual  things  and  to  a  considerable  degree  condition 
results. 

It  is  important  that  the  church  edifice  be  put  into  such 
condition  as  will  best  serve  the  needs  of  the  expedled 
revival  services.  In  country  neighborhoods  or  villages 
it  will  be  wise  to  provide  facilities  for  hitching  securely 
and  caring  for  the  horses  and  vehicles  that  will  gather. 
The  approaches  to  the  church  can  usually  be  so  arranged 
that  vehicles  can  be  driven  near  the  church  door  so  that 
in  case  of  storms  of  rain  and  snow  persons  need  not  long 
be  exposed  to  their  violence  in  mounting  and  dismount- 


151-  GETTING  READY 

ing.  In  some  cases  a  vestibule  may  be  placed  at  the 
entrance  of  the  church  during  the  winter  season  where 
persons  who  arrive  during  prayer  may  remain  in  shelter 
until  they  can  enter  the  house  without  disturbing  the 
service.  This  vestibule  need  not  be  very  large  and  may 
be  made  portable  by  being  construdled  in  secfbions,  easily 
put  together  and  taken  apart.  Such  a  strudlure,  neat  and 
tasty,  in  harmony  with  the  style  of  the  church  building, 
may  be  construdled  at  a  small  expense,  and  will  add 
very  much  to  the  comfort  of  the  people  and  the  order  of 
the  services. 

The  provision  for  heating  the  building  should  be  ample 
and  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  people.  SuflB.cient  fuel 
should  be  put  in  the  stove  before  the  meetings  begin. 
Receptacles  should  be  provided  in  the  church  for  the  fuel 
necessary  for  a  service,  and  so  arranged  that  the  stoves 
can  be  replenished  with  the  least  possible  confusion  and 
noise.  I  have  seen  the  progress  of  more  than  one  meet- 
ing materially  checked  by  the  disturbance  created  by  the 
sexton  attending  to  the  fires.  Proper  facilities  for  ven- 
tilating the  room  are  equally  important.  The  usual  way 
of  ventilating  a  room  that  is  insufferably  close  or  hot  by 
throwing  up  a  window  is  to  invite  disease  and  death  to 
take  hold  upon  the  perspiring  congregation.  Hence 
some  other  less  dangerous  method  of  lowering  the  tem- 


FOR  A  REVIVAL.  .  155. 

perature  or  introducing  fresh  air  should  be  devised. 
Whatever  the  plan  of  ventilation,  the  preacher  ought  to 
be  able  to  control  it  by  a  mere  look  at  the  proper  person, 
and  have  the  proper  changes  made  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  congregation,  thus  avoiding  both  distradlion 
and  complaint. 

The  church  should  be  well  lighted.  Light  has  a  moral 
quality,  begetting  inspiration,  enthusiasm,  and  hopeful- 
ness. Plenty  of  lamps  should  therefore  be  provided,  so 
that  the  finest  print  can  be  read  anywhere  in  the  room 
and  persons  readily  recognized  at  any  distance  within 
the  walls.  To  save  lamps  and  oil  during  a  revival  meet- 
ing is  unthrifty  economy. 

The  minister  should  make  careful  provision  for  his 
own  comfort  and  health  during  the  meeting.  Owing  to 
the  heat  of  the  crowded  house  and  the  violence  perhaps 
of  his  physical  and  nervous  exertion,  he  will  find  him- 
self at  the  end  of  the  service  bathed  in  perspiration.  In 
such  a  condition  to  make  a  change  of  fifty  degrees  in  the 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere  which  surrounds  him  and 
which  he  breathes  cannot  but  give  a  dangerous  shock  to 
his  system.  In  many  cases  carelessness  here  has  bten 
the  cause  of  permanent  disability,  or  even  of  death, 
through  throat  and  other  diseases.  If  on  the  other  hand 
proper  precaution^  are  taken,  evangelistic  work  is  not 


156  GETTING  READY 

necessarily  prejudicial  to  bodily  health,  but  may  ser\^e, 
as  it  has  done  in  numberless  cases,  to  strengthen  and 
build  it  up.  Sufficient  wraps  should  be  provicled  for 
the  whole  person,  but  for  the  neck  and  head  in 
particular.  If  he  has  any  distance  to  ride,  he  should 
be  well  wrapped  in  robes  and  rugs  so  as  to  abso- 
lutely prevent  an}-  chilling.  In  holding  a  meeting 
at  some  distance  from  his  own  home,  the  sele(5lion  of 
his  stopping  place  should  be  made  with  care.  He  should 
frankly  tell  his  people  that  the  proper  care  of  his  health 
will  not  permit  him  to  spend  his  nights  in  their  various 
homes  as  is  expedted  in  some  communities.  To  sleep  in 
a  different  bed  every  night,  perhaps  in  rooms  where  there 
has  been  no  fire  for  months,  if  indeed  ever,  where  the 
bed-clothes  are  icy  with  dampness,  is  to  criminally  risk 
one's  life  and  future  health,  which  the  minister  has  no 
right  to  do,  if  it  can  at  all  be  prevented.  He  should 
seledl  a  home  as  near  the  church  as  possible,  and  engage 
a  bedroom  in  which  there  is  a  stove  where  a  brisk 
fire  is  to  be  kept  several  hours  each  day,  and  a  well 
furnished  bed  which  is  to  be  thoroughlj^  aired  each  day 
to  obviate  the  evil  consequences  of  his  unusual  and  copi- 
ous perspiration.  If  he  cannot  have  a  stove  in  his  room 
he  should  have  a  jug  of  warm  water,  a  hot  stone,  iron,  or 
even  a  stick  of  wood,  well  wrapped  to  prevent  a  too  rapid 


FOR  A  REVIVAI..  157 

loss  of  heat,  placed  in  his  bed.  Nor  should  any  timidity 
or  unwillingness  to  make  what  might  appear  unnecessary 
trouble,  or  any  fear  of  giving  offense  to  other  members 
of  his  church  whose  hospitality  he  does  not  accept  pre- 
vent him  from  thus  providing  for  his  comfort  and  taking 
the  proper  precautions  to  shield  his  health.  The  success 
of  the  campaign  depends  too  much  upon  the  maintenance 
of  his  health  and  strength  to  allow  any  trivial  consider- 
ations to  interfere  with  proper  arrangements  for  their 
protedlion. 


INDEX, 


Advertising  a  revival,  151. 
After  the  service,  128. 
Anecdotes,  36. 

brief,  38. 

pointed,  39, 

lively  and  forcible,  39.  v 
appeal  to  sensibilities,  39. 
fresh,  40. 

Association  of  pastor  and  evangelist,  148. 
Attradtive  themes,  126. 
Autobiography,  Finney,  50. 

Barnes,  Dr.  Albert,  quoted,  63. 

Beecher,  Dr.  layman,  quoted,  69. 

"Bringing  in  Sheaves,"  E)arle,  50. 

Building  up  attendance  of  Sunday-school,  132. 

Bunyan's  "Pilgrim's  Progress,"  128. 

"Cabinet  of  Illustrations,"  Gannett,  43. 
Calling  an  evangelist,  143. 
Canvass-book,  31. 
Cartwright,  Peter,  50. 
Choice  of  an  evangelist,  144. 
Clark,  Rev. ,  99. 

-Comfort  and  convenience  in  church  building,  153. 
"Coming  Revival,  The,"  117. 
Committees,  109. 

Compensation  of  evangelist,  147. 
•Conditions  of  spiritual  baptism,  88. 


i6o 


INDEX. 


Confession,  85. 
Contents,  9. 

Cooperation  of  pastor  and  evangelist,  148. 

Cooperation  of  Sunday-school  teacher  and  superintendent,  131. 
Craft's  "  Supplemental  Encyclopedia,"  45. 
Cuyler,  Dr.,  quoted,  24,  92. 

Danger  of  belittling  conversion,  97. 
Danger  of  denunciation,  93. 
Dante's  "  Inferno,"  58. 
Determination  to  have  revival,  53. 
Diredl  reference  to  faults,  94. 
Disraeli,  quoted,  38. 
Doe,  Rev.  W.  P.,  quoted,  96. 

Earle,  49. 

"Bringing  in  Sheaves,"  50, 
Employing  others'  help,  97. 
Entertainments,  133. 
Essentials  of  song-books,  46. 
Every  Christian's  power,  26, 
Evidences  of  success,  112. 

Final,  end  of  revival  efifort,  119. 
Finney,  49. 

Autobiography,  50. 
"  Fire  and  Hammer,"  Parker,  50, 
Fleming's  "Fulfillment  of  Scripture,"  66. 
Forgetfulness  of  self,  62. 
Future  condition  of  unconverted,  100. 

Gannett's,  Howard,  "  Cabinet  of  Illustrations,"  43. 

General  Preparation,  119. 

"  Gospel  Worker's  Treasury,  The,"  43. 

Graves'  "I^ife  and  Sermons,"  50. 

Hammond,  49, 

"  Reaper  and  the  Harvest,"  50. 
"  Hand-book  for  Revivals,''  Fish,  50. 
Health  of  minister,  155. 
How  to  make  the  service  interesting,  125. 


INDEX. 


How  to  seledl  song-book,  46. 
Humphrey,  Rev.  Dr.,  quoted,  77. 

Ideal  of  organization,  108. 

IllustraUon,  54,  66,  72,  90,  92,  94,  107,  131,  136. 

Illustrations,  35. 

for  sermon,  35. 

for  song,  44. 

systemized,  44. 
Illustrative  material,  40. 

personal  experience,  41. 

cyclopedias,  42. 

Bible,  42. 

Importance  of  attention  to  music,  47. 
Importance  of  spiritual  influence,  123. 
Impressing  Christians  as  to  unsaved,  loi. 
Indirect  work,  78. 
"  Inferno,"  Dante,  58. 
Interesting  public  service,  125. 
Introdudtion,  11. 

Jones,  Mr.,  29,  49. 

Kirk's  "I,e(f\ures  on  Revivals,"  50. 
Knowledge,  Pastor's,  of  situation,  20. 
of  self,  20. 

physical,  mental,  spiritual,  20,  21. 
of  community,  22. 

laws  of  propriety,  22. 
peculiarities,  22. 

relations  between  individuals,  23. 
standing  of  individuals,  24. 
special  talents  of  individuals,  25. 
of  enemy,  28. 

prevalent  sins  in  community,  28. 
cause  and  extent  of  resentment  against  church,  28. 
social  organization,  29. 
number  and  whereabouts,  30. 
I^EADER  of  song,  114. 

"I,eaves  from  a  Worker's  Note-book,"  McConaughy,  117. 
"I^edtures  on  Revivals,"  Kirk,  50. 


l62 


INDEX. 


"I^etters  from  Hell,"  Rowel,  58. 
"  Ivife  and  Sermons,"  Graves,  50 
Ivists,  31,  121. 

Management  of  revival,  47. 

"  Manual  of  Revivals,"  Hervey,  50. 

McConaughy's  "I^eaves  from  a  Worker's  Note-book,"  117. 
Memoirs  of  Peter  Cartwright,  50. 
Methods  of  successful  revivalists,  49. 
Milton's  "Paradise  I^ost,"  58. 
Miscellaneous  preparation,  151, 
advertising,  151. 

condition  of  church  building,  153. 

health  of  minister,  155. 
Moody,  43,  49,  93. 
Morality  not  enough,  100. 

Necessity  of  faith,  63. 
Need  of  an  evangelist,  143. 
Need  of  geniality,  121. 
Nettleton,  49. 

Newell,  Dr.,  quoted,  54,  72,  93,  136. 

"  Revivals,  How  and  When,"  50,  136. 
Number  of  unsaved,  loi. 

Off  year  in  revivals,  120. 
Organizing  the  church,  104. 

"  Paradise  I^ost,"  Milton,  58. 

Parker's  "  Fire  and  Hammer,"  50. 

Pastoral  relation,  95. 

Pastor  as  evangelist,  143. 

Pastor  must  be  leader,  104. 

Pastor's  relation  to  Sunday-school,  130. 

Personal  acquaintance,  123. 

Personal  division  of  responsibility,  112. 

Personal  love  for  unsaved,  68. 

"Pilgrim's  Progress,"  Bunyan,  128. 

Pillars  of  church,  96. 

Porter,  Dr.,  19. 

Power  of  preacher,  19. 


INDEX. 


Power  of  the  Word,  60. 

Prayer- Meeting,  The,"  Thompson,  99. 
^'Pra<flical  Outlines  for  Worker's  Training  Classes,"  Sloan, 
Preacher's  preparation,  17. 

importance  of,  17. 

time  necessary  for,  17. 

compared  to  a  campaign,  17. 

result  of  inadequacy  of,  18. 
Preface,  7. 

Preliminary  remarks,  17. 
Preparation  for  revival, 

of  preacher,  17,  69. 

of  church,  76. 
spiritual,  83. 

general,  119. 
Preparatory  work  among  Christians,  77. 
Pressing  unsaved  into  service,  136. 
Previous  preparation  of  songs,  45,  113. 
Public  prayer,  90. 

Qualifications  of  leader  of  song,  114. 
Quoting  texts  from  memory,  116. 

Realization  of  need,  83. 

Realization  of  scripture  truth,  55. 

"Reaper  and  the  Harvest,"  Hammond,  50. 

Relation  of  church  to  outside  world,  27. 

Repentance,  85. 

Reproof  of  negledl,  92. 

Responsibility  of  preacher,  19,  66. 

Result  of  realization,  103. 

"Revivals,  How  and  When,"  Newell,  50,  136. 

"Revivals  — How  to  Promote  Them,"  W.  P.  Doe,  98. 

"Revival  I^edlures,"  Finney,  50. 

Rowel's  "lyctters  from  Hell,"  58. 

Scripture  texts,  116. 
Secret  prayer,  90. 
Self-examination,  69. 
Self-forgetfulness,  62. 
Self-surrender,  69. 


INDEX. 


Sense  of  sinfulness,  56. 

its  folly  and  degradation,  56. 

in  God's  sight,  57. 

consequences,  57. 
Sermon,  The,  91. 

Sloan's  "  Pradlica  lOutlines  for  Workers'  Training  Classes,' 

Social  organization  among  unsaved,  29. 

Social  sei-vices  98. 

Songs  suitable  for  revival,  46. 

Special  services,  127. 

Special  talents,  25. 

Spirit  of  prayer,  86. 

Spiritual  influence  of  pastor,  123. 

Spiritual  preparation,  52. 

Spiritual  preparation  of  church,  83. 

Study  of  methods,  48. 

Sunday-school,  130. 

"Supplemental  Kncyclopedia,"  Craft,  45. 

Table  of  contents,  9. 
Talking  up  need  of  revival,  95. 
Texts,  33,  116. 

Thompson's,  Rev.  L,.  O.,  "The  Prayer-Meeting,"  99. 
Training  members  in  methods,  115. 

Undeveloped  workers,  25. 

Use  of  anecdotes.  35.  ' 

Value  of  consecration,  71,  74. 
Value  of  determination,  54. 
Value  of  variety  in  services,  80. 

Wayland,  Dr.,  100. 
Welch,  John,  66. 

When  an  evangelist  is  needed,  143. 
Who  need  particular  attention,  96. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  116. 

"Young  People  of  the  Bible,"  128. 

"Young  People's  Prayer-Meeting,"  Clark,  99. 


